Duke  University  Libraries 

Sketches  from  H 
Conf  Pam  #612 


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IN 


'■  I! :   THE^ SUMMEItFALL-  AND; WIN'TiR  CAMPAIGNS  OF  '62, 


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IVXB;  ALSO. 


P^^ji-^v^•«;^^i^^&:^^:^^       "Af'^rP^Iliv  ATE.:  :.- 


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K^L-EI-G-ir: 


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-i«tt>nij^'aA^»-. 


•<  ■   I 


/P  KE-F^  C  E.^ 


In  giving  t^e  sketches  of  these  exploits  to  the  public 
from- the  immediate  scenes  where  they  were  acted,  our 
position  jn  the  ranks  necessarily  limits  our  province, 
individually,  to  the  events  confined  to  this  TBrigade ; 
•  and  where  it  was  connected  in  the  same  ex],')cditions 
with  Stuart's  other  Cavalry.     ' 

Written,,  as  they. have  been,  in  hurried  moments  and 
.snatched  intervals  in  camp, i\yc    ask   the  vail  of   charity 
over  their  imperiections.    "   ^^*-^^ 


^y-t^Btf-^X^t 


» 


# 


FORMATION  OF  THE  BRIGADE. 


FIRST   SKIRMItJlIES; 

We  propose  to  speak  of  the  part  this  Brigade  took  in  the 
fiummer.  Fall,  and  Winter  Campaigns  of  62,  through  Vir- 
ginia and  Maryland— including Stuart?'s  daring  and  success-, 
ful  Kaid  into  the  8tate  of  Pennsylvania;  and  inEnru^Me's 
rear  after  the  Battle  of  Fredericksburg. 

The  Brigade  was  organized  immediately  after  the  iJat- 
tles  around  Richmond, — comprisinoj  the  following  Caval- 
ry Regiments,  all  of  which  had  acted  simply  as  Regiments, 
attached  to  different  Infantry  Corps,  viz  :  "Cobb's  Geors-ia 
Troopers,"  (formerly  of  Cobb's  Legion),  2d  Regiment  S.^C. . 
Cavalry,  (of  Hampton's  old  Legion),  the  Cavalry  of  the 
"Jeff.  Davis  Legion,"  (of  Philips'  Legion),  the  "1st  Regi- 
ment N.  C.  Cavalry,"  and  the  "  10th  Regiment  Virginia 
Cavalry,"  *  and  a  Battery  of  Horse  Artillery,  (from  Hamp- 
ton's old  Legion),  under  Captain  Hart,  a  galhnt  and  skill- 
ful officer. 

These  different  Regiments  embodied  the  tiuwer  of  the 
youth  and  manhood  of  the  different  States  of  Mississippi, 
Alabama,  Georgia,  South  Carolina,* Xorth  Carolina,  and 
Virginia.  An  impulsive  youth,  most  of  them  brought  up 
in  the  lap  of  luxury  and  ease — fresh  from  the  eollege  and 
the  schools.     Men.  of  worth  and  standing,  from    the  desk, 

•  This  Kepinifiit  was,  in  the  first  nf  tin-  \viut<»r,  ti  in>fcncJ  lo  another  Brigade 
jiiiH  replnced  I)y  tlie  let  !>.  C.  Cavaln . 


the  shop,  the  office,  and  the  farm,  had  been  traJB|rmed 
into  the  hard}'  and  dashing  trooper.  ij^^B 

The  Brigade  was  placed  immediately  under  tBf  com- 
mand of  General  Wade  Hampton,  of  b.  C.,^who  had  early 
equipped  and  led  to  the  field  a  veterafnp*-^gion,  from'  his 
own  chivalrous  State :  with  which  Tie  had  already  demon- 
strated his  jiist  claims  to  the  chattcter  of  a  skillful,  brave, 
cool,  and  daring  officer ;  worthyof  the  highest  confidence, 
which  he  now  enjoys  to  ^he  fullest  degree  in  his  com- 
mand. 

About  the  same  time  Gen.  J.  E.  B.  Stuart,  that  dashing 
and  daring  officer,  was  created  Chief  of  the  Cavalrj' of  the 
Army  of  Virginia,  including  our  Brigade. 

The  Brigade  was  immediately  despatched  to  the  outpost 
of  the  Chickahominy,  to  picket  and  watch  the  movements 
of  lVIjjCl€llan,  on  his  "  new  base  "  on  the  James;  where  he 
lay  for  weeks,  cowering  under  the  lash  Lee's  army  had  so 
vigorously  plied  upon  him,  in  his  inglorious  attempt  of 
his  "  on  to  Richmond  by  way  of  the  Peninsula."  Our  .ad- 
vance lines  encircliiig  his  "base  "  from  the  south  bank  ot 
the  Pamunkey  to  tlie  north  bank  of  the  James,  our  right 
resting  on  Malvern  Hill.  For  several  weeks  the  outposts 
of  each  army  lay  quietly  iii  the  face  of  each  other,  wittlout 
anything  beyond  the  usual  routine  of  picket  duty.  Till 
about  the  1st  of  August,  the  monotony  of  our  watchin^s 
was  relieved  by  the  rattling  of  artillerj''  wagons,  and  the 
tramp  of  horses,  advancing  from  the  direction  of  the  "  Fed- 
eral Base,"  on  that  part  of  the  lin'o  held  by  the  North  Caro- 
lina and  Georgia  Cavalry — the  North  Carolinians  holding 
the  upper  part  of  the  line,  at  the  junction  of  the  Quaker 
and  Charles  City  roads ;  and  the  Georgians  th6  extreme 
right,  on  Malvern  Hill.  The  Nol'th  Carolinians  skirmish- 
ed, at  intervals,  all  through  the  night,  with  the  'enemy's 
Cavalry.  At  day-break  in  the  morning,  Capt.  Siler,  with 
a  body  of  dismounted  troopers,  met  their  advance  on  the 
Quaker  City  road,  and  after  a\  sharp  skirmisli,  wounding 


8eve5|||pf  the  enemy,  they  fell  back  i^oii  their  main  body, 
aiul  advanced  down  a  parallel  road  farther  to  our  left,  con- 
verging into  Malvern  Hill.  Here,  in  full  force,  moved  on 
tlieir  grand  army,*our  Cavalry  harrassiug  and  hanging  on 
their  flanks.  AVith  shouts  thGy  made  the  \velkin  ring  as 
tliey  reinvested  these  old  memorable  heights ;  and  that  mor- 
ning's sun  rose  upon  her  slopes  frowning  with  Federal  guns 
to  clear  the  broad  plazas  around,  and  the  hill-sides  were 
bristling  with  bayonets  ;  while  the  spade  and  the  pick  was 
being  busily  plied,  extending  the  old  works  of  July  1st, 
and  erecting  new  ones.  Our  arm*y,  about  twelve  miles 
distant,  was  apprised  of  this  sudden  move,  and  were  on 
the  qui  live,  and  reached  the  vicinity  cf  the  hill.  A  desul- 
tory skirmish  was  kept  up  on  the  right,  principally  by  the 
Cavalry,  till  two  o'clock,  when  the  artillery  was  brought 
up  and  opened,  which  wps  met  with  a  spirited  response  for 
an  hour  and  a  half.  The  diftercut  corps  of  our  forces  was 
being  brought  up,  couriers  were  seen  hurrying  in  dashing 
sji^ed  from  one  command  to  another — every  appearance 
foreshadowed  a  comiuo-  engagement,  and  that  the  bloody 
scenes  of  July  the  1st,  was  to  be  re-enacted  upon  this  mem- 
orable spot.  Firing,  on  the  part  of  the  enemy,  became 
^low,  when  a  reconnoisauce,  from  the  Georgia  and  North 
Carolina  Cavalr^^-was  thrown  out,  driving  in  the  enemy's 
pickets  and  skirmishers,  when  the  skirts  of  the  hill,  which 
was  occupied  by  the  main  body  of  the  enemy,  was  found  to 
be  vacated,  and  their  last  lines  of  Infantry  were  seen  skulk- 
ing off  over  the  crests  of  the  hills  on  the  east,  hurrying  in 
confusion  to  their  gun-boats  that  lay  in  profusion  a  few 
miles  distant — our  cavalry  hanging  on  and  pursuing  them-" 
to  their  anxious  covering.  Our  loss  was  .only  five  killed 
and  wounded.  The  enemy's  loss  was  35  killed  and  wound- 
ed, and  .125  prisoners.  Thus  ended  McClellan's  skedad- 
dle No.  2  from  Malvern  Hill.  Doubtless  the  lesson  taught 
him  there,  four  weeks  before,  had  brought  up  unhappy  as- 
sociations, which  could  be  relieved  only  by  a  promenade 


under  the  port-hol^  of  bis  favorite  "craft  "  tha^^  saved 
bini  from  the  rebel  grasp  after  bis  seven  da^^^nnd-a- 
bout  walk  from  Richmond  ;  or  only  to  perform. the  cele- 
"brated  strategy  of  a  valiant  French  G^nertll,  who 

"Marched  his  men  up  the  hill. 
And  niarclied  them  down  again." 


McCLELLAN  VA'CATES  HIS  '-NEW  BASE." 

After  this  event  our  lines  and  the  enemy's  continued  the 
same.  The  intervening  space  between  the  two  lines  was 
covered,  by  thick  heavy  pine  and  oJik  timber.  McClellan's 
position  was  admirably  chosen  for  concealed  movements. 
The  country  arOund  in  the  bend  of  the  James  is,  for  the 
most  part,  a  level  phiin,Avith  gently  rising  hills  as3'0U  near 
the  banks  of  the  River,  ovcrsliadowed  by  tall  heavy  forest, 
behind  which  the  shrewd  Yankee  Oeneral  had  care^jjully 
located  and  laid  out  his  numerous  camps. 

With  these  natural  advantageous  surroundings  to  inter- 
cept our  watchings,  the  enemy  commenced  his  grand 
Hegira  from  the  James,  at  Harrison's  Landing  (as  their 
prisoners  and  deserters  say,)  on  Friday  morning  the  15th. 
The  first  intimation  our  Cavalry  had  of  it  was  on  Saturday 
night  the  16th.  Early -Sunday  morning  Gen.  Hampton 
ordered  out  the  North  Carolina  Cavalry  to  make  a  recon- 
noisance,  under  his  immeJiate  command.  He  advanced 
cautiously  in  the  direction  of  the  enemy's  camys :  feeling 
the  way  slowly  as  he  approi^ched  through  the  thick  woods. 
The  outer  camps  were  found  to  have  been  hastily  and  re- 
cently deserted,  leaving  boliind  tlieui  a  good  quantity  of 
Commissary  Stores.  The  next  camps  farther  on  were  left 
in  a  similar  situation.  Just  as  the  sun  was  sinking — while 
moving  slowl}'  down  a  gradmil  descent,  in  An  open  space, 
with  a  strip  of  heayj'  timber  in    front,  l)e^\ond  which  was 


9 


seen  iif^^  edgfi  of  a  corn-field  the  enemy's  pickets,  (jen. 
HamptdBlnmediately  formed  the  regiment  into  separate 
detachments,  a  squadron  in  each,  preparatory  to  a  charge. 
Skirmishers  were  thrown  out.  The  advance  charged  the 
first  post  and  after  a  sharp  firing  the  pickets  were  driven 
in.  The  enemy  had  drawn  up  his  Cavalry  beyond  the 
corn  at  the  farther  side  of  an  open  wheat  field  to  receive 
us.  Gen.  Hampton's  clear  calm  voice  rang  out  "charge 
them."  Sabres  leaped  from  their  Scabb&rds  and  the  whole 
Regiment,  by  squadrons  went  dashing  through  the  stand- 
ing corn  up  across  the  open  field,  but  soon  saw  that  the 
"  skedadliug"  propensities  of  our  enemies  were  predomi- 
nant, by  their  hastily  turning  their  backs  in  a  precipitate 
flight  towards  their  only  ark  of  safety,  the  cowardly  cover- 
in,^  of  Yankee  Gun  Boats.  The  pursuit  was  continued  on, 
till  within  a  mile  of  the  Gun  Boats,  and  here  formed  a  line 
of  bgttleabout  dark.  The  command  quietly  aw  aited  an 
advance  of  the  enemy's  forces.  Gen.  McLaws'  Division 
bein^^n  reserve  in  supporting  distance,  deeming  that  the 
proximity  of  our  presence" would  certainly  draw  them  out; 
night  wore  on^  but  nothing  disturbed  the  quietude,  save 
the  smuggled  ringing  of  an  occasional  bell  of  the  Gun 
Boat  fhat  lay  ofl:  in  the  River.  Sabres  were  finally  returned ; 
the  men  dismounted  and  lay  down  oh  the  bare  ground 
with  bridle  in  hand,  and  slept  for  an  hour  or  two.  When 
our  scouts  roturned,  having  ascertained  that  the  enemy's 
main  body  had  gone,  or  in  other  words,  had  "  changed  his 
base."  .  The  Regiment  was  immediately  set  on  in  pursuit, 
dashing  over  brakcn  down  bridges  and  through  deserted 
camps,  and  marching  till  nearly  daj'-light,  halted,  and  took 
a  few  moments  repose  ;  mounted  again  and  took  up  the 
pursuit.  In  passing  through  a  deserted  camp  was  descried 
on  a  board  pasted  in  a  conspicuous  place,  written  in  a  tol- 
erable k'n'iblo  liiuid  the  followinir  iualc\'oleut  notice. 


•lu 

'■  Fare\\-ell  Rebels,  we  leave  you  a  while  Uk  yonv  salu- 
In'ious  clime,  and.  if  you  follow  us  up,  we  j^  give  3'ou 
u  repetition  ofWilliamsburg,  Fair  0?iks,  MMvauicsville, 
Gain's  Mill  and  Malvern  ITill.  We  intend  to  conquer  and 
restore  you  to  the  Union  yet.  We  will  then  hang  Jeff. 
Davis,  Beauregard  &  Co.,  and.  take  jour  men  for  a  stand- 
ing army  to  defend  the  Union  for  all  time." 

(Signed.)  1st  ILLmOIS  CAVALRY. 

What  a  compliment  the  latter  clause;  as  by  -the  time 
they  subjugate  us,  their  skedadling  army  wont  'have 
virtue  enough  to  defend  that  glqrious  old  institution,  and 
have  to  intrust  it  to  the  *'  ragged  rebels,"  they  so  much 
deride.'  Recollect,  at  the  commencement  of  the  war  that 
same  boastful  spirit  g^ave  out,  "That  the  nations  of  Eutope 
may  rest  assured  that  Jeft.  Davis  &  Co.,  would  be  swing- 
ing from  the  battlement  •  at  Washington,  at  least  before  the 
4th  of  July.  We  spit  upon  a  later  and  longer  deferred 
justice.  Many  sucli  repetitions  as  .tbe  above  li|p  been 
given.  And^  the  boastful  author  and  his  conjurors  of  cop- 
perheads may  spit  and  continue  to  spit  their  venom  to  the 
exhaustion  of  the  last  drop  of  blood  in  their  vile  carcasses, 
before  they  attain  the  canaaii  of  their  unholy  wishes.  An- 
other ludicrous  incident  wo  will  mention.     Parsing  across 

'road  with  an  old  sign-board  pointing  to  Richmond  25 
miles.  On  the  same  post,  immediately  underneath,  was 
affixed  an  old  horse's  jaw-bone,  the  opening  pointing  to 

"Richmond,  inscribed  in  fancy  characters,  "To  Dixie,  25 
miles,  soon  be  there."  An  acknowledged  monument  of 
derision :  We  would  suppose  that  they  had  besought  its 
samsonic  virtue  to  lead  them  victoriously  to  the  long  cov- 
eted Capital  of  the  Southern  Philistines.  But  alas!  their 
cause  was  not  the  same  that  accompanied  that  victorious 
weapon,  that  delivered  God's  chosen  people  from  the  thrall- 
dom  of  Philistinic  tyranny. 


11 

The  pursuit  was  kept  up  rapidly,  till  abo.ut  noon,  when 
near  CharJ|s  City  C.  PL,  sonic  Cavalry  was  captured,  and 
also  some  teams.  After  scouting  on  the  Charles  City  and 
James  River  roads,  it  was  .ascertained  that  the  enemy's 
main  body  was  too  far  in  advance  to  make  any  farther  pur- 
suit practicable.  A  halt  was  called  and  a  scout  was  ordered 
to  McClellan's  works  at  Coggin's  and  Maycock's  points.  In 
approaching  the  last  line  of  fortifications,  it  was  ascertain- 
ed that  the  evacuation  was  complete.  Here  was  found  an- 
other deep  exercise  of  Yaakee  ingenuity  and  strategy.  On 
approaching,  could  be  seen  ofi  those  distant  works,  senti- 
nels posted  at  regular  iiitervals,  with  full  equipments  clear- 
ly visible,  but  their  stationary  position  finally  betrayed 
them;  and  upon  closer  examination  it  was  found  how  nice- 
ly they  had  duped  us.  The  advance,  however,  relieved 
them  from  their  long  stand,  consigning  their  robust   pro- 

'  portions  of  rag  aAd  straw  to  the  four  winds,  and  appropri- 
ating their  other  equipments  to  Confederate  use.  The 
whol^ountry  whose  face  a  few  days  before  swarmed  with 
Yankee  soldiery,  was  nowriddenbf  their  hateful  presence. 
The  only  hostile  manifestations  was  the  occasional  Gun- 
boat patrolling  the  Jiiver.  Over  this  once  happy  but  now 
forsaken  country,  the  frightened  birds  began  to  fly ;  and 
farther  up  from  the  River  could  be  seen  families  in  carts 
and  wagons  returning  to  their  despoiled  homes.  Not- 
withstanding the  desolation  that  would  meet  them  there, 
they  seemed  cheerful  and  delighted  at  the  idea  of  onco 
more  beholding  the  hare  spot  where  their  once  happy  asso- 

'  ciatious  were  once  wont  to  cluster.  But  what  a  sad  scene 
would  await  th^m,  their  residence  dismantled,  fences  des- 
troyed, every  living  domestic  animal  disappeared,  growing- 
crops  laid  waste,  and  not  even  a  flower  from  the  overtrod- 
den  beds  to -welcome  tbem  back  again.  A  people  that  can 
be  cheerful  under  such  circumstances,  are  certainly  imbued 
wit^i  principles  of  a  cause  that  can  never  bo  shaken  from 
its  base. 


Here  iuglgriously  ended  the  last  act  in  the  Mraiua  of  the 
Grifnd  Napoleon's  favorite  Peninsula  Route  to  Richmond. 
Giving  a  most   ample   commentary   upon   the   trite   old 

con]ilot. 

"  That  he  who  figlitf  and  runs  uway. 
Will  live  to  light  another  <iuy." 


HAMPTOXS  LEAD  WITHDRAWS  FROM  THE 
CHICKAHOMINY— PURSUES  THE  RET  R  BAT- 
ING ENEMY  FROM  MAjS'ASSAS— ©ROSSES  INTO 
MARYLAND. 

What  a  <3ontrast  this  juncture  presented  in  our  affairs. 
Here,  from  the  out-post  below  Richmond,  our  Cavalry  had 
been  watching  the  movements  of  the  enemy  upon  our 
beleaguered  capital ;  but  were  soon  to  be  transjm-ted  by 
the  sudden  rush  of  events — to  be  huHed  against  the 
retreating  columns  of  another  portion  of  his  over-confident 
army,  and  to  vidette.  almost  at  the  gates  of  his  own  capi- 
tal. At  Cedar  Mountain,  on  August  the  9th,  Jackson's 
unwearied  columns  met  and  victoriously  thrust  back  the 
immense  columns  of  the  braggart  Pope;  and  on  the  29th 
and  COth,  on  the- memorable  plains  of  Manassas,  his  com- 
bined forces  were  again  defeated  and  routed  by  the  mas- 
terly strategy  and  energy  of  our  Generals.  All  our 
Cavalry  division,  except  one  brigade  which  was  left  on  the' 
out-post  below  Richmond,  under  the  immediate  command 
of  Gen.  J.  D.  13.  Stuart,  was  actively  engaged  amid  the?e 
stirring  scenes.  In  the  meantime,  we  too,  were  withdrawn 
from  our  lines,  with  our  horses  heads  nortljiward,  and  by 
forced  marches,  came  up  in  time  to  join  in  the  pursuit  of 
the  enemy  from  the  scene  of  his  last  disaster  of  the  30th. 
Accordingly,  o!;i  the  morning  of  the  2hd  of  September, 
Hampton's  fiesh  trooper?,  with  n  lart   of  EitzLee's   brig- 


la 


ade,  with  Hampton's  Battery  of  Horse  Artillery,  were 
sent  on  iu  pursuit  of  the  jvtreating  enemy,  under  the 
immediate  command  of  our  gallant' chieftain,  Gen.  Stuart, 
smiling  with  a  cunning  satisfaotib'n  as  he  dashed  along  at 
our  head.  The  column  moved  on  in  the  direction  of 
Fairfax,  C.  11.  Wlieu  within  a  f^w  miles,  turned  directly 
to  the  left,  moving  along  a  by-way  down  a  little  run 
skirted  by  a  range  of  thickly  timbered  hills.  Winding 
cautiously  down  this  run  under  cover  of  the  woods,  the 
column  was  crossed  and  were  couched  among  the  thick 
timber  on  the  hill-sides.  Then  a  small  recrtnnoitering 
party  was  led  by  Gen.  Stuart  and  Hampton"  across  the 
hills  to  within  a  short  distance  of  the  Fairlix  and  Alex- 
ander road,  three  miles  above  Fairfax,  C.  II.  The  ene- 
my's Cavalr}''  was.  discovered  about  a  mile  across  an  open 
field  in  a  strip  of  woods  skirting  the  latter  with  thick 
heavy  timber  on  both  flanks  qf  the  field.  The  road  lead- 
ing from  Fairfax  was  still  beyond  this  strip  of  woods 
on  whichjt  was  presunied  that  the  enemy's  columns  were 
passing.  A  body  of  dismounted  troopers  from  the  1st  X. 
C  .  Cavalry,  under  Capt.  Siler,  was  sent  forward  through 
tiie  wood  on  tke  right  to  fully  ascertain  this  fact,  and  if 
possible,  to  get  in  the  rear  and  bag  the  Cavalry.  At  this 
side  of  the  field  Generals  Stuart,  Hampton  and  stafip, 
selected  a  point  of  observation  on  a  little  knob  in  the  edge 
of  the  wood  on  this  side  of  the  run.  Here  a  little  occur- 
rence took  place  that  came  near  costing. Gen.  Hampton 
his  life.  Gen.  Stuart  had  laid  down  on  a  little  pile  of 
timothy  bay,  and  his  wearied  form  was  seeking  a  few 
moments  repose.  Gen.  Hampton  was  busily  making 
observations  with  his  glass,  when  a  tall,  stalwart,  dis- 
mounted trooper,  on  the  track  of  the  party  just  passed, 
with  two  old  rusty  horse  pistols  in  one  hand  and  an  old 
Mississippi  rifle  in  the  other,  wiping  the  swoat  from  his 
bronzed  brow,  turning  earnestly  up  his  deep  expressive 
blue  eyes,  panting  for  breath,  accosted  Gen.   ITamjJtou; 


14 


"Well  Gineral,  I'm  u  leetle  bcliind.  Did  jee  see  Captiiv 
Siler  go  along  cross  this  way,"  continuing.'  "Yeesee 
Gineral,  the  Captin  's  a  monstrous  good  hand  with  a  rifle,  • 
and  when  yee  sent  down  thar  for  us,  we  started,  every 
feller  Avith  his  gun,  and  me  witli  mine,  and  when  we  had 
o-ot  a  smart  chance  up  the  hill  from  the  boys  behind,  the 
Captin  tuck  my  ritie  and  told  me  to  go  back,  and  yee  see 
I  had  nuthin'  but  these  two  old  fellers  left,  (exhibiting  the 
old  horse  pistols,^)  and  I  had  a  mine  to  go  on  anyhow,  but 
I  know'd  they  would  not  do  at  long  taw,  Altho''fhc 
Captin 's  a  monstrous  arood  hand  with 'a  gun,- 1  can  hold 
one  jest  about  as  plnm  as  the  common  run.  ■  And  so  you 
see  I  run  back  and  getlicrcd  up  this  old  rifle  from  one  uv 
the  boys  and  that's  how  I  cum  to  be  behind,"  The  Gene, 
ral,  smiling,  replied,  '-It  don't  matter,  just  stay  here  with 
me,  the  Captain  is  gone  too  far  for  you  to  overtake  him 
now."  But  he  still  continued  with  the  earnestness  of  a 
true  heart.  "  Gineral,  jist  pint  out  the  course -and  I  kin 
ketch  up  yit.  I  can  t  stand  it  to  see  the  boys  go  imo  a  fra- 
kus  'thoutbein'  along  with  thom  too."  The  General  tak- 
ing his  gun,  asked  him  if  it  was  loaded.  Ascertaining 
that  it  was  not,  he  handed  it  back,  and  ordered  hira  to 
charge  it  with  a  good  cartridge  :  and  pointed  out  to  him  the 
Yankee  position  on  the  farther  side  of  the  field,  instruct- 
ing him  to  go  round  cautiously  through  the  wood  on  the 
left,  across  the  run,  and  creep  up  in  the  timber,  and  when 
he  heard  his  party  attack  on  the  other  side  he  could  have 
a  chance,  should  any  run  out  that  way  ;  and  also  to  "find 
a  crossing  for  artillery  over  tlie  run.  He  stealthily  hur- 
ried ofl  with  an  carnestj  determined  tread.  ■  Gen.  Hamp- 
ton, to  satisfy  himself  as  to  a  crossing,  rode  dirictly  across 
the  field  to  the  run,  through  a  thick  undergrowth  of  ivy 
and  laurel,  to  the  point  indicated  to  the  scout,  who  came, 
hurrying  back  in  the  meantime,  and  with  an  earnes'  and 
enquiring  look  asked  for  the  General.  ,  He  was  answered 
by  one  of  his  aids  that  he  Ind  rode  down   there,  (pointing 


where  lie  came  trom).     "  AVhat  was  it  ?  '     '•'AVei"      ec  >ec 
as  I  was  down  tbar  slipiu.aloug  thru  the  bushes,  I  lu^ars  a 
man  a  ri(Ten  along  on  the  tother  ^side  uv  me.      The  bushes 
was  monstrous  thick,  and  I  jist  could  see  the  glimpsuv  a 
person,  and  so  I'thought'he  was  after  some  devilment,  so  f 
laid  my  old  rifle  by  a  tree,  awaiten  for  him  to  show  himself 
a  lectle  pl#,iner.     My  b^ad  was  sot,  and  I  was  about  to  pull, 
down,,  as  the  bushes  waved  a  leetle,  and  I  cotched  a  plain- 
er glimps  uv  his  clothes.     I  thought  they  didn't  look  blue 
enough  to  please  mc,*and  the  hat,  too,  looked  a  leetle  like 
the  Gineral'g  old  broad  un,     (Gen.  Hampton  wears  a  broad- 
brimmed  black  felt  hat,  with  a  simple  Palmetto  device  on 
the  undersi\le  of  the  brim,  as  familiar  to   his   men    as  his 
face),  and  so  I  dropped  my  finger  from  the  trigger.      And 
if  it  wasn't  the  Gineral  nor  none  of  our  boys,  I  didn't  want 
to  make  any  suspicion,  and  so  yee  see  I  jist  slided  out  and 
run  up  to  see;  and  if  not,  then  I'd  go  back  and   shell   my. 
bead'on  him."     In   the   meantime  Gen.  Hampton  came 
riding  up  fiom  the  same  direction.     With  a  smile  of  the 
most  serene  satisfaction,  accompanied  by  an  anxious   nod, 
he  added,  ""Well,  the  Gineral  is  allers  prowlin  round  to  see 
for  himself  ef  things  is  fixed  all  right.     But  it's  no  joke,  he 
come  as  near  as  a  gnat's  heel  of  ketchin  it  that  time.     Lord 
I  would  a  hated  it  monstf'ously  ef  my  rifle  had  tuck  down 
the  good  old  chap  !  "     In  the  meantime,  the  Yankee  Cav- 
alry discovered  the  ruse,  and  skedaddled  at  the  top  of  their 
spee'd.     Capt.  Siler  returned  after  making  the  necessary 
recounoisance,  ascertaining  that  the  enemy's  columns  were 
passing  along  a  road  from  Fairfax  C.  H.,  about  a  mile  and 
a  half  distant,    placing  as  on   his  flanks.      Accordingly, 
about  4  o'clock,  p.  m..  Hart's  Battery  of  Horse  Artillerv 
was  moved  up  from  the  woods  and  placed  in  position  on 
the  highest  hills  that  run  up  from"' the  afore-mentioued  lit- 
tle run,  and  opened   suddenl}'  an,d  furiously  upon  the   un- 
suspecting columns  of  the  Yajikee  army,  which  caused  no 
little  dismav  in  their  discomfitted  rants.      Mendinir  their 


pace  at  every  step,-  the}-  plunged  on  to  get  beyond  the  reach 
of  our  murderous  missiles  that  were  crashing  through  their 
ranks.     Heavy  columns  of  black  smoke  were  to  be  seen 
rising  from  their  rear — evident  signs  of  a  commissary  sac- 
rifice.    Our  Horse   Artillery  continued  a  furious   cannon- 
ading, with  good, effect,  till  nearly  sunset;  when  the  cav- 
alry was  sent  on  in  pursuit — the  North  Carolina  Cavalry  in 
adVance.     "When  opposite  the  Court  House,  the  command 
was  separated,  one  part  dashing  down  to  the  village,  and 
the  otiier  party  dashing  into  tl  e  main  road  aboi-e,  captur- 
ing a  considerable  body  of  the  enemy  about  a  mile  up  this 
road  ;  while  a  considerable  batcli  was  sectired  at  the  Court 
House.     The  whole  body  then  moved  on  up  this  road  after 
the  retreating  forces  of  the  enemy*  catching  up  batches  of 
prisoners  all  along  the  road.      Night  was  now  coming  on. 
The  pursuit  was  nevertheless  pushed  on  till   about   nine 
o'clock,  when  one  of  those  unfortunate  occurrences  took 
place  incident  to  night  pursuits.     Both  sides  of  the  road 
was  skirted  by  a  dense,  heavy  timber.     While  moving  on 
downto'the  foot  of  a   hill,  a  heavy  fire   ot   musketry  was 
suddenly  poured  dow^n  into  our  ranks,  from  behind  the 
timber  on  both  sides.     This  sudden  rebuff  caused  the  col- 
umn to  halt  and  lalter,  Ijut  the  cool  and  encouraging  tones 
of  Hampton  braced  them  and  was  preparing  for  the  charge 
when  their  artillery,  from  an  advantageous  position  opened 
upon  us,  and  were  sweeping  the  road  with  shell  and  canis- 
ter, while  the  wood  from  all  sides  seemed  to  be  lighted  up 
by  the  flash  of  small  arms,   and  to  have  attempted  any 
farther  advance  would   have  been  Balacklava  rushiress. 
The  command  was  wheeled  about  and  drawn  off  orderly 
about  two  hundred  yards  back  from  this  position,  and 
were  drawn  up  in   an  open  field  for  an  attack;  but  no 
sooner  than  formed  the  enemy .'s  iiring  suddenly  ceased. 
A  reconnoiterin'g  party  was  sent  out,  who  reported  that 
the  enemy  had  moved  off  and  were  making  good  time  up 
the  Al<3xaudria  road.     Gur  loss    in  th(j  affair  was  miracu- 


17 


loufiiy  sligiit.  Any  turtlier  pursuit  under  tho  circum- 
stance of  darkness  and  tlie  superior  advantages  of  au  am- 
buscade was  dcoraed  impracticable  and  the  command  was 
withdrawn  and  bivuuaced  for  the  night  near  by  the  road. 
Early,  next  mch-niug  the  jDursuit  was  again  taken  up  and 
pushed  on  vigorously  to  within  5  rniles  of  Alexandria,  cap- 
turing several  batches  of  prisoners.  Then  turned  to  the 
left  up  the  Drainsville  Turn  Pike,  pursued  the  road  a  few 
miles,  then  turned  to  the  right— passing  above  Georgetown 
bivouaced  on  the*  banks  of  the  Pbtomav-.  Xext  day  scout- 
ed hear  Georgetown — where  a  body  of  Yankee  cavalry- 
were  ejicountered,  dispersed  them  after  killing  and  captur- 
ing a  number.  T^he  next  daj^  Sept.  5th,  took  up  line  of 
march,  passed  through  Drainsvillo  on  to  Lecsburif. 


CRO'SSING  THE  POTOMAC  INTO  MARYr.AND— 
CAPTURIO  OB  POOLSVILLE— YANKEE  SCOUTS- 
CAPTURE  IMPORTANT  D1SPATCHES-O0R 
CAVALRY  RECAPTURE  THEM— FIGHT  IN 
FREDERIOKTOWN— CATOCKTIK  MOUNTAIN— 
MIDDLETON— AND  SOUTH  MOUNTAIN.  THE 
BATTLE  OF  B00NSi30RO  GAP,  HARPER'S 
IFERRY   AND   ANTIETAM. 

In  .approaching  Leesburg  many  different  corps  of  our 
Array  have  halted  9 nd  were  lying  in  the  vicinity.  And 
the  immense  clouds  of  dpst  rising  from  the  different  roads 
converging  to  that  pomt  from  the  South — indicated  that 
the  others  were  on  the  '/za*  m^e  moving  up.  Our  column 
filed  on  past,  and  rested  a  few  hour.s  on  the  skirts  of  the 
town.  And  just  as  the  last  rays  of  the  sittingsun  were  siok- 
iDg  behind  the  western  hills  the  advance  was  sounded  and 
the  long  line  ot  our  cavalry  moved  on  through  tJie  streets  of 
thi?  ancient  old  Burgh — debouc!:ing  to  the  right  filed  dow  u 


the  last  crest  of  bills  thatoverlyol^  the  rotojnac,  uud  rested 
on  its  banks  just-  above  the  bloody  scenes  where  nearly 
eleven  months  bctbrc  the  Ball's  Bluft'  tragedy  was  enac-, 
ted.  The  conjectures  as  to  our  late  reticent  movements 
were  not  set  at  rest.  The  Potomac  was  to  be  crossed— 
splendid  bands  of  music  both  from  the  V'irginia  and  Ma- 
ryland side  strucjcup  and  continued  discoursing  th'eir  most 
cnspiriting  martial  airs.  The  wearied  and  worn  soldier 
momentarily  forgot  his  fatigue,  as  the  rnbicon  of  his  long 
cherished  hopes  lay  out  before  him.  The  mooti  and  stars 
never  shown  more  brightly  on  the  placid  rolling  waters  of 
this  classic  stream.  Tlioiigh  many  a  heart-  silently  bout 
with  indefinite  longings  and  sad  forebodings;  as  one  wouM 
reflect  that  that,  same  bright  moon  would  shine  on  strange- 
ly contrasted  scenes  to  this.  Iler  gentle  rays  were  soon  to 
play  into  many  a  cold  pale  face — the  gurgling  waters  alone 
to  hum  the  requiem". 

The  cr/ra|«vas  without  any  interpretation,  as  our  ad- 
vance^had  clpred  the  opposite  banks  of  a  small  body  of 
cavalry  that  fled  at  their  approach.  The- march  was  pur- 
sued without  any  obstacle  to  Toolsville  some  8  miles  from 
the  river;  where  our  advance  encountered  an  unsuspecting 
body  of  Yankee  cavalry,  and  after  a  sharp  skirmish  in  the 
streets  succeeded  in  entirely  routing  and  dispersing  them 
— killing,  wounding  and  capturing  thirty.  Here  the  brig- 
ade halted  and  bivouaced  for  the  rest  of  the  night;  and 
resumed  the  march 'early  next  morning,  (Sep.  6th,)  with 
the  I^orth  Caaolina  cavalry  in  the  advance.  After  passing 
through  the  towii  of  Jjurnsville  bearing  to  the  right  of  a 
range  of  n^ountains  known  as  the  "Shugar  Loaf  Range;" 
we  were  quietly  pur.suing  our  cours.e  alpng  a  by-way  lead- 
ing along  the  base  of  these  mountains;  when  an  alarming- 
incident  occurred  that  came  well  nigh  affecting  seri- 
ously the  ensuing  Campaign.  The  government  dispatches 
containing  the  matter  relative  to  the  present  campaign 
upon  which  the  Confederates  had  jui^t  entered  were  eii- 


19 


trusted  to' a  bearer  in  care^of  our  cavalry  who  with  a  cour- 
ier had  hicautiously  rode  on  ahead  qt"  flie  Advance  Guard 
a  short  distance,  and  were  assailed  bj.  a  small  party  of 
Yankee  cavalry  springing  suddenly  upon  them  in  the  behd 
of  the  road.  Thcfb(3tirer  and  all  the  dispatches  were  cap- 
tured— the  courier  succeeded  in  escaping  back  to  the  Ad- 
vance Guard,  wlio  under  Capt.  Ruffin  were  led  on  in  instant 
pursuit,  which  was  anxiously  and  vigorously  kept  up  for 
four  miles,  when  the  objects  were  suddenly  overtaken  being 
only  an  officer  and  private  of  the  Yankee  signal  corp^in  ' 
charge  of  the  prisoner.  Who  strange. to  say  had  not  ex- 
amined the  pofllmanteau  conspicuously  appended  to  the 
pommel  of  the  saddle.  They  had  Icisurly  ca^ed  at  a  farm 
house  on  the  road  side.  Xot  dreaming  that  their  quiet 
would  be  so  suddenly  intruded  upon.  The  officer,  as  the 
affair  turned  out,  being  a  romantic  youth,  w'hile  on  signal 
duty  on  these  mountains  had  signalized  to  Cupid,  who  had 
exchanged  his  mischievous  darts  between  him  and  the  old  far- 
mer's daughter — a  bouncing  lass  of  "sweet  sixteen"  and 
had  doubtless  called  in  his  course  to  have  a  teie  a  teteto  relate 
the  adventures  of  the  morning  to  his  lady-love.  But  he 
found  his  romance  broken  upon  as  our  dusty  troopers 
dashed  up  to  the  house  and  led  him  out  from  the  cozy  em- 
braces of  his  mountain  Delilah,  who  had  ploughed  so  deep- 
ly into  his  affections  as  to  have  shorne  him  ojf  the  bright 
honors  the  ■  circumstance  of  such  an  important  capture 
would  have  awaited  him  from  his  sensational  masters  at 
Washington.  The  weeping  lass  mingled  her  sobs  with  his 
further  mortification  as  Gen.  Stuart  who  had  just  rode  up,  ' 
inflicted  the  ri'ght  of  search  upon  his  person  extracting 
something  more  than  love  documents;  which  was  found  to 
be  a  matter  of  some  military  importance  to  us.  After  this 
occurrence  we  pursued  our  march  quietly  on  to  the  little 
village  of  Urbanna,  where  Gen.  Stuart  and  Hampton  es- 
tablished their  Headquarters.     From  this  point  our  lines 

ran  to  the  Potomac  below  Poolsvil|e.    Hampton  on  the 

/^ 
/ 


20 


left  and  the  other  eavuhy  ou  the  right  pickottiug  the  dit- 
ferent  roads  some  distanec  down  towards  Washington. — 
Our  lines  here  were  repeatedly -and  vigorously  assailed  by 
.  tho  Yankee  cavalry — especially  that  part  held  by  the  brave 
•and  gallant Fitz  Lee.  He  was  attacked-on  two  occasions,  the 
details  of  which  we  are  unable  to  speak,  b^t  siUHcient  to 
say  these  veteran  troopers  gallantly  repulsed  them  and  held 
■  the  line  against  overwhelming  odds  of  the  enemy.  That 
part  of  the  line  held  by  Gen.  Hampton,  was  less  in1,errup- 
ted.  However  the  enemy  assailed  that  part  of  the  line  ou 
th'emainWas>hiiigton  r.oad  late  in  the  evening  of  the  10th,  but 
the  timely  reinforcements  of  the  North  an#  South  Carolina 
cavalry  they  were  inunediatcly  driven  off. 
.  In  the  mean  tin^o  our  whole  army  having  come  up,  halt- 
ed and  rested  on  the  Monockaey  River  near  Fredericktown 
up  to  the  8th  inst.,  and  ha(J  now-  all  passed  on  over  the 
Blue  llidgo  to  play  their  programme  in  the  capture  t)f  Har- 
per's Ferry.  And  their  flanks  required  n<>  further  protec- 
tion from  this  quarter;  the  cavalry  was  accordingly  drawn 
in.  The  enemy  was  found  to  be  m.oving  up  in  several  col- 
umns, on  the  ditfcrcnt  roads  leading  from  Washington  city, 
and  had  advanced  to  within  a  few  miles  of  Urbanna.  Late 
in  the  afternoon  of  the  11th  the  command  movqd  slowly  oft' 
from  this  point  iu  the  face  of  the  enemy;  and  reached 
Fredericktown  9  miles  distant  and  bivouaced.her«  for  the 
night  without  any  i-ntefruption.  From  the  eminence  oti 
which  Fredericktov,  n  stands  the  enemy's  cavala^-  was  seen 
early  next  morning  up  on  our  fear  closely  followed  by  his 
Infantry  and  Artillery  in  solid  column. 

A  detachuKnt  of  150  men,  under  the  immediate  com- 
mand of  Gen.  Hampton,  was  formed  as  a  rear  guard, 
while  the  main  body' and  the  trains  moved  out,  filing  to 
the  left,  ou  the  Hagerstown  tunipike.  The,  rear  guard, 
led  by  Hampton  in  person,  met,- about  noon,  at  the  skirtn 
of  the  town,  the  advance  of  a  considerable  body  of  Yan- 
kee Cavalry,  when  a  sharp  hand  to  hand  conflict  ensued, 


21 


which  resulted  in  drivhig  them  back  against  their  main 
hoft}'.  They  were  rallied  and  followed  our  little  band, 
who  slowly  rct'red,  tiling  to  the  left  behind  the  corner, 
wheeled  about,  and  prepared  td  receive"  the  confident - 
unsuspecting  enemy,  who  came  dashing  on  up  to  the 
confer  in  fine  stWe,  led  by  a  portly  Colonel,  mounted  on 
a  pplendid  black  charger,  encouraged  by  an  occasional 
wave  of  linen  from  some  female  unionist,  or  a  flap  from 
some  enthusiastic  old  shoemaker's^  apron  ils  he  passed. 
As  he  neared  the  corner,  waving  his  sabre,  he  shouted, 
*' Come  on  boys,  let's  give  'em  h — 1."  Hampton's  little 
band  stood  firm,  as  fair  hands  were  streaming  secession' 
emblems  from  tlie^balconies  and  windows  above.  Our  boys 
dasl^ed  at  them  at  the  corner,  l^op,  pop^went  the  pistols, 
follow-ed  by  the  clash  of  sabres.  It  was  only  momentary. 
Cold  steel  had  the  usual  cfi:ect  on  Yankee  valor.  They 
soon  broke,  cowering  before  our  little  body,  back  to  their 
main  force,  who  were  then  .advancing  in  rapid  strides  to 
their  support.  Our  pursuing  party  was  leisurely  drawn  ofi". 
In  pursuing  the  last  bod}'  (|own  the  streets  some  cowardly 
miscreant  fired  upon  Gen!  Hampton  from  a  window  as  he 
passed.  Our  loss  was  two  killed,  five  wounded  and  miss- 
ing. The  enemy's  loss  was  five  killed,  several  wounded 
and  eight  captured.  Among  the  latter  was  their  Colonel, 
who"  so  gallantly  led  the  charg.e.  His  capture  was  con- 
nected with  an  act'of.  individual  courage  and  daring 
worthy  of  record.  As  he  was  nearing  the  corner,  at  the 
head  of  his  column,  a  stalwart  Carolina  trooper,' impetu- 
ously dashed  at  him  with  drawn  sabre,  but  Ins  lieavy  stroke 
wa?^  warded  off  and  his  sabre  wrung  from  his  tig'ht  grasp 
by  a  dexterous  parry  of  his  expert  antagcni.'t.  •  The  con- 
fident Yank  was  raising  the  final  blow — the  trooper's 
horse  was  spurred  against  the  others — darting  under  the 
descending  blow,  which  fell  harmlessly  ov6r  him  and 
before  his  blow  was  recovered,  with  iron  nerve,  he  instantly 
K'ixed  him  bvthe/;'oat  collar  and  wror^'  >'  i  '■     •  •  ••"  1  ^s 


00 


saddle  violently  npon  the  stone  pavement.  The  ct'e^i- 
fallen  Yankee  sang  out,  "I'm  your  prisoner.".  Ilis  fiiie 
hlack  charger  was  secured  and  placed  in  Gen.  Hampton's 
livery,  which  since  hasi  carried  his  rehcl  rider  safely 
through  many  an  adventure. 

With  many  regrets  we  left  behind  the  Igyal  citizens'  of 
this  place;  who  during  our  short  sojourn  liad  contril)utctl 
freely  of  their  substance  to  the  comtorts  of  our  wearied  aad 
worn  soldiers.  The  tramp  of  the  enemy's  cavalry  and  the 
rumbling  of  his  numerous  artillery  trains  presented  a  sad 
but  pleasing  contrast;  as  thc^entlc  voices  of  her  patriotic 
women  gave  vent  in  the  sweetest  tones  in  the  tune  of  IHx- 
ie  and  Bonnie  Blue  Flag  as  we  retired  and  \vaving  us  on 
with  the  parting  "God  bless  you."     True,  our  fondest  qx- 

,  pectations  failed  oftheir  realization  on  entering  the  State, 
3'et  out;  of  justice  to  tliis  place  we. will  state  that  five  Imn- 
dred  young  men  of  the  first  families  flocked  to  our  standard 
and  followed  us  from  their  homes  and  have  fought  and  are 
still  fighting  our  battles. .  And  how. long  will  these  noble 
souls  be  exiles  heaven  only  knows.  They  are  truly  worthy 
ota  free  land;  and  although  their  mother  home  may  be  deri- 
ded and  her  private  motives  spurned;  the  tyrant's  grasp 
must  one  day  relax  and  then  Maryland  must  fise  redeemed. 
Our  march  was  pursued  without  any  immediate  pursuit 
on  the  part  of  the  enemy.  They  seemed  content  with 
marching  and  counter  marcjiing  through  the  streets  as 
though  the  whole  army  was  on  simple  patrol  duty.  Late 
in  the  evening  his  immmcnse  columns  could  be  seen  de- 
bouching out  from  the  streets  and  covering-  tRe  open  fields 
on  both  sides  the  Turn  Pike.  Passing  on  before  him 
through  this  beautiful  valley  we  gained  the  base  of  the  1st 
range  of  mountains  beyond  Fredericktown  known  as  the 

•  "Catocktin  Range."  The  Gap  through  which  the  Turn 
Pike  passes  is  approached  by  a  gentle  acclivity  nearly  on 
a  straight  line  from  the  base  to  the  summit.  The  extreme 
summit  of  the 'Gap  is  overlooked  by  high  ridges  rising  on 


I 

iLe  right  and  left  of  the  road — still  running-  up  to  loftier 
proportions  as  it  recedes  from  the  pass.     On   the   summit 
in  this  Pass  two  pieces  of  artillery  were  placed  in  position 
and  a  small  detachment  as  pickets  were  left  behind  to  keep 
a  close  lookout  on  the  movements   of  the  enemy — while  ^ 
the  main  body  moved  tn\  down  the  mountain,  through  Mid- 
dleton,  a  dingy  mountain  hamlet  at  the  base,  on  Catocktin^ 
creek,  on  the  other  side  of  which  the  brigade  bivouacked 
for  the  night.     And  early  next  morning  were   drawn  out 
and  countermarched  back  through  Middleton  to  the  top  of 
the  monirt^in   with  positive  orders  to  hold  it  as  long  as 
practicable    that  day.      Part  ot  the  command    were-  dis- 
mounted and  placed   along  the  cliffs  that  overlooked  the 
road  as  sharpshooters — two  more  pieces  of  artillery  were' 
pjaced  in  position  on  the  extreme  ridge.   *Barly  about  mid- 
way between    Fredericktown  and  the  mountain  the  im- 
mense column  of  the  enemy  with  his  long  lines. of  cavalry 
in  front,  followed  by  his  artillery — and  the  roads  as  far 
back  as  the  city  seeriied  to  be  one  moving  mass  of  infan- 
try—were on  the  advance.     From  this  point  the  grand 
scenery  of  the  subjacent  country  stretches  out  to  the  view 
cataracts  dashing  from  the  mountain   sides,  swelling  into 
rivers  and.  sweeping  in   their  course  through  the  green 
fields  that  Ornate  the  vallies  below,  neat  white  cottages 
overhung  by    the    clustering  vine,  dotted   the  subjacent 
country  around.     But  these  peaceful  scenes  were  soon  to 
give  way  to  the  unhallowed  shock  of  war.     The  enemy's 
columns  came  moving  on  up  the   valley  about  9  o'clock, 
his.  advance  a  strong  body    of*  Cavalry.      Artillery   an'd 
Infantry  in  immediate  supporting  distance,  arrived  at  the 
foot  of  the  mountain  and  advanced  to  within  a  mile  and  a 
lialf  ot  our  position;    when  'Hampton's  favorite  Blakely 
pieces  opened  from  the  summit  with  go^d  eftect  plunging 
its  solid  balls  into  their  ranks  driving  hinr  back  down  the- 
mountain  si<lo?  when  his  artillery  was  brought  to  the  front. 


24 


A  lively  duel  was  kojtf  tip  for  two  hours  doing  us  do  dam- 
age, tlie  ]lrojectiles  of  his  lieavy  field  piecc?s  ploughing  into 
the  mountain  sides  below  iis,  or  just  ov^r  the  rid^e  faliina" 
harmlessl-y  in  the  valley  beyond.  IKs  cavalry  made  sev- 
eral.attempts  to  advance  but  were  forced  back  by  our  well 
directed  shots.  Their  advance  skirmishers  came  round  on 
the  right  to  flank  that  position  held  bj^  the  North  Caroli- 
nians but  thcJV  trusty  rifle  carbines '  sent  tkem  skedadling 
b^k  killing  and  wounding  several  of  their  number.  The 
enemy  accordiugl 3' about  1  o'<yock  was  massing  a  strong 
force  in  front  at  the  base  as  if  to  carry  the  pass  by  assault 
and  commenced  the  ascent.  But  our  few  pieces  of  artille- 
ry was  so  skilfully  worked  as  to  check  an(t  consiflerably 
retard  their  progress.  Our  dismounted  skirmishers  fought 
and  held  them  back  till  all  our  pieces  were  drawn  off  ami 
retired  about  two  o'clock  slowly  ddwn  tlie  western  slopes 
of  the  .mountain  making  a  stand  at.  the  eastern  skirts  of 
Middleton,  with  only  Hampton's  Cavalry  srt  that  point. ^- 
A  few  miles  beyond  lay  the  South  Mountain  Jiange,  across 
which  the  road  passesto  Ilagerstown,  through  a  narrow  and 
difficult  pass,  known  as  "Boonsboro'  Ga}>,"  To  the  lefT, 
in  the.  direction  of  Harper's  Ferry.,  is  another,  pass,  known 
as  "  Crampton's  Pass." 

Jackson's  forces  was  now  .sweeping  around  and  eirviron,- 
ing  ]Iarper's  Fcrr}'.  And  the  enemy  now  with  anxious 
tread  was  bending  on  to'  the  relief  of  that  beleaguered 
place.  '  Stuart's  Cavalry  had  for  seve'ral  .  days'  past  been 
hanging  in  his  front,  impeding  his  progress  iit  every  step. 
All  the  rest  of  our  army  lay  beyond  the  mountain  passes, 
up'in  th6  direction  of  Ilagerstown.  And  so  the  enemy  had 
to  be  held  in  this  valley  that  day,  till  our  Infantry  could 
^et  back  and  take  position  in  these  passes,  to  meet  the 
advancing  hosts  of. McCloUan.  About  4^  o'clock  in  tho 
evening,  the  'enemy  came  teeming  througli  the  pass  we  had 
just  evacuated  and  \nt]i   exulting  shouts,    came   pouring 


-:> 


down  the  slopes.  •  The  North  Carolina  Cavalry  was  posted 
on  the  eastern  skirts  of  th-<'  village,  to  gppose  them.  The 
other  Regiments  of  Hampton's  Cavahy  being  withdrawn 
across  Catocktin  Creek,  and  drawn  up  t)u  the  other  side 
with  the  Artiller}'.  The  enemy's  Cavali^  advan^d  down 
upon  us  with  filet;  of  Infantry  sharp-shooters  on  each  side. 
They  were  met  by  a  squadron  of  mounted  and  dismounted 
men  under  Capt.  8iler,  a  brave  and  daring  officer  of  the 
N.  C.  Cavalry,  who  gallantly  fought  and  repulsed  the  ad- 
vance. The  whole  Regiment  were  exposed  to  a  most 
murderous' fire  o^the  eneifiy's  Artillery  from  the  moun- 
tain sides  above.  Onr  brave  boys  were  falling,  and  the 
enemy  were  attempting  to  flank  the  body  from  above  and 
below  ;  and  to  hold  the  place  iany  longer  was  impracticable". 
And  by  the  brave  and  admirable  conduct  of  Capt.  Siler, 
who  formed  the  rear  guard  ;  notwithstanding  his  thigh 
Ijad  been  shattered  by  a  ball,  he  stood  firm  against  the 
overwhelming  odds  and  held  the  enemy  in  ch«ck  till  the 
Regiment  was  safely  withdrawn  across  Catocktin  Creek. 
Our  loss  iu  these  engagements  were  mostly  in  wounded. 
The  enemy's  loss  in  both  engaifements  must  have  been 
considerable  from  tlie  visible  effect  of  our  artillery  and 
sharp-shooters  on  his  ranks.- 

The  whole  prigade  moved  off  turning  to  the  left,  down 
the  Backittsville  Road.  Having  pi'oceeded  about  five 
miles,  in  passing  through  a  thick  wood',  where  a  road  runs 
up  from  the  left  dt  right  angles  to  our  road,  a  large  body  of 
Yankee  Cavahy  was  seen  suddenly  dashing  upon  us  from 
tliis  road,  dust  at  that  tinfe  the  rear  of  the  Georgia,  Cav- 
alry w'as  passing,  the  quic^  eye  of  Col.  Young  perceived 
this  sudden  dash,  and  immediately  wheeled  and  led  his  men 
impetuously  against  them  ;  and  aftera  short,  but  dpsperate 
conflict,  succeeded  in  routing  them — his  gallant  men  set 
upon  fhem,  cutting  them  down  as  tliey  broke  and  fled  iu 
the  wilde.'Jt  confusion.      Their  officer^  attempted   to   rally 


I'tj 

them,  but  that  savag  reebel  yell,  and  clashing  sabres  add- 
ed nn  impetus  to  their  flight.  It  was  with  difficulty  that 
Qen.  Hampton  could  call  the  impetuous  troopers  oft,  as  it 
was  important  that  t]ie  next  mountain  pass  should  be  gain- 
ed as  soon  as  possible.  The  enemy's  loss  was  40  killed 
and  Abounded — an  officer  and  several  privates  captured. 
Our  loss  was  six  killed  iind  wounded.  Among  the  woun- 
ded, was  the  gallant -and  accomplished  Col.  Young,  who 
had  his  leg  shattered  by  a  hall,  in  the  latter  part  of  the  en- 
gagement.        4  •  ^ 

It  being  now  ueaj'  sun-down  the  conimaud  was  moved  on 
without  any  farther  interruption  to  its  destination — a  ^lass 
on  .South  Mountain.  Here  we'bivouaced  for  the  night 
on  our  position.  This  pass  formed  the  extreme  right  liank 
of- our  forces.  On  the  ensuing  day,  Sunday  the  14th,  ^he 
forces  of  D.  II.  Hill  were  moving  up  and  had  occupied 
the  Boonsboio^  Pass ;  while  a  small  detachment  of  McLaw's 
Division  had,  during  the 'night,  moved  up  and  occupied 
("rarnpton's  Pass.  Our  brave,  weary,  foot-sore  Infantry 
quietly  slept  on  their  arms,  oi*livous  of  the  near  and  fre- 
quent vollies  of  their  fellow-comrades  skinftiishing  at  inter- 
vals during  the -night.  All  night-  the  approaching  tramp 
of  the  enemy  could  be  heard  nearing  the  position  of  our 
army.  The  day  at  length. — a  calm  Sabbath  da}' — ojiened 
auspiciously.  A  bright  sun,  as  the  log  of  the  valley  early 
liited  itself  away,  rose  and  reflected  its  rays  bn  a  cloudless 
sky.'.  From  the  little  hamlets  on  the  forc-gwund- between 
the  two  hostile  parties  could  early  be  seen  the  terror-strick- 
en inmates  rushing  out  and'  precipitately  liurrying  to  and 
fro  to  escape  the  comingmissiles  of  destruction  that  had  al- 
ready commenced,  at  "  long  taw,"  hurling  through  the  air. 
'fte  narrow  valley  below  seemed  to  be  one  moving  mass 
ot  Yankee  soldiery.  The  grand  and  freshly  recruited' ar- 
mies of  McClellan  and  Burnside  now  stood outin  skirmish- 
ing distance,  and  their  long  lines  were  sti!\  pouring  from 
the  South  through  tlie  Catocktin  pass,  and  pitted  against 


this  immense  and  well-apportiotied  host,  were  only  8,000 
Confederate  'soldiers,  worn  down  by  fasting  and  over- 
"marchings,  led  by  that  cool,  intrepid  christian,  D.  H.  Hill, 
of  Bethel  fame ;  on  whom  the  ,God  of  battles  had  so  visibly 
sn'iiled 

Qf  the  dotaiis  or  tiiis  hard-iought  battle,  wc  shall  not  at- 
tempt to  speak.'  The  enemy,  appreciating  the  difficulty 
in  approaching  our  position,  an  assault  was  early  and  furi- 
ously made  on  the  position  at  Boonesboro'  Gap,  by  his 
heavy  artillery,  and  then  continued  all#along  the  line. 
Musketry  became  general  about  two  o'clock..  Up  to  that 
lin^e,  all  of  his  assaults  on  our  little  band  htid  been  success- 
fully met  and  repulsed,  except  the  position  held  by  the 
]>rave  and  lamented  GaVland,  whose  Brigade  had  been 
thrown  on  an  advance  position,  on  the  side  of  the  mountain, 
that  fought  more  furiously,  and  probably  did  more  execu- 
tion on  that  desperate  day,  than  any  other  troops.  An 
epitome  of  their  noble  conduct  may  not  be.  out  of  place 
here.  -Early  in  the  action  this  gallant  officer  fell.  His  de- 
voted men,  composed  entirelv  of  North  Carolinians,  after 
they  saw  him  borne  lifeless  off  the  field,  unflinchinglyheld 
their  position.  Five  cracked  Brigades  of  Burnside's  Corps 
closed  around  this  Brigade.  A  remnant  of  them  cut  their 
way  through. .  The  20th  Regim-ent  X.  O.  T.,  of  this  Brig- 
ade, made  its  way  out,  and  gained  a  position  on  a  steep 
«idc  of  the  mountain  behind  a  rough  stone  fence,  and  with 
their  unerring  rifles  were  dealing  death  by  the  wholesale 
into  the  ranks  of  the  en.eriiy,  as  they  wouki  attempt  the  ascent. 
Their  posiji m  gave  the  enemy's  artillery  beloAV  no  chance 
at  them.  They  however  succeeded  in  rolling  a  piece  by 
hftnd  tlkough  a  thick,  timber  on  the  right,  and,  unobserved, 
had  jnlaced  it  in  position  so  as  to  command  the  space  be- 
hind #lie  stone  fence.  Here  Capt.  J.  B.  Atwoll  took  out 
his  company  and  secreted  them  in  musket  range  behind 
a  ledge  of  rocks,  picking  the  gunners  off  as  fast  as  they 
could    take    po;iti"n|ai'onnd   their   s:un.     They   however 


sc'cmed  nothing  daunted  at  tijc  fate  of  their  comrades,  but 
IMomptlj  took  their  places,  but  to  make  theHfeless  heap, 
higher.  But  while  this  eftective  work  waa  goiug  on,  the 
enemy's  infantry  clambered  \w  on  the  luonntaiu  sides  and 
caniL'  pouring  round  in  disproportionate  numbers  on  the 
little  band. .  Here  the  noblo  Atwell  fell  mortally  woun.ded. 
Hie:  men  succeeded  in  bearing  his  body  oft — cutting  their 
way  back  to  the  main  body  at  the  Gap.  (Kir  position  was 
a  strong  one,  on  which  to  manoeuvre  as  mall  body.of  men  ; 
and  skillfully  did  ^le  gallant  Hi'll  handle  l.iis  little  handful, 
holding  Iiis  position  on  the  ridge- and  slopes  around  the 
Pass,  j'igaiust  the  shock  of  overwhelming  odds:  sheltering 
his  men  behind  the  olifts  and  Stone  fences,  with  compara- 
tively small  loss,  except  the  Brigade  above  mentioned.  In 
the  meantime,  that  part  of  McLaws'  Division  were  gallant- 
ly contending  on  the  right  atCrampton'sl'ass.  Here  only 
a  part  of  Cobb's  Georgia  brigade,  with  the  Gth  and  12th 
Virginia  regiments,  held  the  pass  till  late'  in  the  evening, 
against  nine  brigades  of  Franklin's  grand  Federal  Division, 
and  retired  only  alter  the  ammunition  lirnl  been  entirely 
exhausted,. 

Our  (-axiilry  were  engaged  during  the  day  in  desultory 
skirmishing  on  the  extreme  right.  The  "  Grand  Yankee 
Arijiy. Corps"  of  Haoker  and  Burnside,  with  Heititzleman 
ill  reserve  came  pressing  up  in  the  evening,  hoping  there- 
by to  throttle  oilr  little  band  by  6he6r  numbers.  But  our 
artillery  from  the  summit  raked  their  advancing  columns 
with  such  immense  havoc,  while  our  deadly,  musketry 
from  the  clifls  beneath,  Averc  dealing  such  destruction  into, 
their  faltering  rar.ks  as  to  cause  them  to  break  for  more 
wholesome  cover.  They  would  relorm  and  throw  fresh  ♦ 
troops  forward  with  much  the  sanjc  results,  till  night  put 
an  end  to  the  bloody  scene.  # 

About  ten  o'clock  that  night.  Gen.-  Hill  evaucated  the 
position  and  withdrew  his  forces,  without  any  show  ot  pur- 
suit on  the  part  of  the  enemy,  in  the  d'^ection  of  Sharps- 


bur.£;.  Hij  object  on  Sumiay  Veins  accqmplish^d — to  hold 
the  enemj'  iu  check  till  tli^  Harper's  Ferry  programme  was 
carried  out. 

Our  Cavalry  withdrew  in  the  latter  part  oi  that  night,  iu 
th^  direction  of  Harper's  Ferry,  picketin^c  on  the  road 
leading  over  the  Maryland  Heights  to  that  place;  froni 
which  point  we  will  indulge  a  glance  at  this  notable  sjiot, 
80  conspicuous  both  bcrfore  and  in  the  history  of  the  preis- 
ent  war.  •  '  <     . 

.  From  a  stjind-point  on  these  Maryland  Heights, that  I'ln 
up  from  the  north  bank  of  the  Potomac,  spreads  out  t) 
the  view  perhaps  one  of  the  most  stupendous  scenes  iu  na- 
ture. On  your  left  comes  rushing  down  the  Shenandoah, 
having  ranged  along  the  north  base  of  the  Blue  Ridge  tor 
a  hundred  miles  to  seek  a  vent.  On  your  right  rolls  down 
the  Potomab,  seeking  a  passage  also.  In  the  moment  of 
their  junction,  they  rush  together  against  the  mountain, 
and  rend  it  assunder,  and  pass  off  to»the  sea.  These  two 
rivers,  at  the  junction,  forms  an  obtuse  angle.  At  the  im- 
mediate intersection  of  which  the  little  town  of  Harper's 
Ferry  is  situated,  raiding  up  the  narrow  banks  of  each 
river,  overhung  by  terrible  preci[tices  in  jutting  fragments. 
Up  the  Pot(>mac  banks  extend  the  immense  dismantled 
Armory  Worlds.  At  the  entrance  still  stands  the  old  En- 
gine house,  of  John  Brown  notoriety,  a  monument  of  that 
old  recreant's  ti'eason.  The  upper  tonvn  runs  up  on  a  high 
eminence,  which  is  overlooked  by  a  still  higher  one,  en- 
circled by  precipitous  ascents ;  both  of  which,  the  enemy 
had  bastioned  around  with  a  line  of  strong  works.'  On 
the  south  banks  of  the  Shenandoah  runs  up  the  Loudon 
Heights,  and  in  front  the  Bolivian  Heights,  which,  with 
the  Maryland  Heights  completely  overlooks  the  place. 

Up  to  v>atur<lay,  the  Yankee  Garrison  were  entirely  ig- 
norant of  our  investing  movement.     .Jackson,  witJi   his 
ubiquitous  corps,  had  left  Hagerstown  on  Thursday,,  bear- , 
ing  round,  had  crossed  the  Potomac  at  Williamsport,  pass- 


ed  through  Martinsburg  on-Friday,  from  \vher§th*e  enemy, 
under  Gen.  Wliite,  had  retired  to  Harpers  Ferry,  the  night 
before,  sweeping  oji  around  he  arrived  in  front  of  Harper's 
Ferry  about  noon  ^Saturday. 

In  the  meantime,  McLaws'  Division  was  moving  up  and 
occupying  #ie  Maryland  Heights,  and  "Walker  the  LoAdon 
Heights  ;  while  Jackson's  Corps  had  spread  out  and  were 
closing  up  the  space  betweeii  the  Potomac  and  the  Shenan- 
doah rivers,  which  included  the  Bolivian  Heights.  Thus 
making  the  line  of  investment  a  complctre  triangle,  with 
old  Stondwall  as  the  base— soon  to  demonstrate  to  General 
AVhite,  the  Chicago  tailor,  tba't  he  might  cut  corfts.  but  to 
cut  himself  out  of  this  angle,  would  be  abamboozling  prob- 
lem to  his  unsophisticated  military  genius. 

On  Suiklay  our  forces  oil  this  base  line  prepared  to  invest 
the  place.  A.  P.  Hill  on  the  right,  on  the  Chadestown  road, 
Ewell's  Division  in  the  center  ancj  Jackson's  ol^l  Division 
completed  the  line  ^cross  from  river  to  river.  Our  artillery 
from  the  right  opens  witli  its  heavy  pieces:  which  startles 
the  Yankee  Commander.;  his  long  caravan  of  wagon  trains 
is  hurriedly  drawn  out  and  move  in^aste  across  the  Poto- 
mac, and  being  fiiirly  stretched  out  in  the  narrow  detile 
that  winds  along  the  bjase  ot  the  Maryland  heights.  The 
Garrison  commences  forming  to  fo]low  ;  but  a  few  unsus- 
pecting shell' from  these  heights,  gave  them  to  understand 
that  their  plan  of  escjipe  was  balked  in  this*direction.  The 
frightened  teamBtera  suddenly  wh«eled  and  went  ratling 
and  crashing,  belter  skelter,  over  one  another  back  to  the 
ferry,  which  was  now  tpo  growing  hot  from  the  streaming 
missiles  from  both  the  Louden  and  Maryland  Heights,  they 
re-crossed,  turning  down  the  Shepherdstown  road,  and  after 
stretching. out  and  winding  down  this  road  a  short  distance, 
met  the  same  unexpected  reception  and  came  plunging 
back  in  the  wildest  consternation  to  their  former  post. 

The  scige  now  opened  and  was  kept  up   from  all    sides 
'  slowly  but  regularly  during  the   day.     The  enemy  feebly 


.1 


respondihg.     The  sun  had  now  sank  behind  the  western 
hills;  yet  the  glaring  flash  of  the  booming  ArtiNcry  from  , 
the  mountain-  sides  literally  lightened  up  the   darkened 
horizon  ;  night  wears  on  ;  still  the  streaming  meteors  from 
the  adjacent  slopes  fly  around  the  terror-stricken  ranks  of 
the  Yankee  Garrison.     Morning  comes,  "  and  as  with  one 
consept  the  hills  salute- the  rising  sun,"  "  with  b'umbs  burst- 
ing in  the  air."     And  just  as  our  forces  on    Jackson's  line 
prepare  to  assault  the  place' on  the  right,  the  gaudy  folds 
of  their  mammoth  Garrison  flag  (measuring  40   yards  in 
length,)  runs  down  and  the  streaming  white  runs    up  in  its 
place.     The  air  rends   with   shouts    from    our  victorious 
forces.     Lieut. ^Chamberlayne  of  A.  P.  Hill'&staft'gocs  for- 
ward and  at  10  o'clock  receives  the  sword  of  the  Yankee 
Conimander'who  had  fallen  a  few  minutes  before  the  sur- 
render.    Thus  ended  the  careei^No.  ^,  of  the  abolitionist 
at  Harper's  Ferry.     Gen.  Hill  remarked  to  the  Command- 
ing Yankee  officer,  who  was  waiulering  at  our  remarkable 
skill  and  energy  in  capturing  the  place  :    "  That  he  would 
rather  take  tl^e  place  twenty  times  than  undertake  to  hold 
it  once."     11,850  prisoners  were  captured,  immense  stores 
of  all  kinds,  vast  supplies  of  ammunition,  large    numbers 
of  splendid  canon,  field  and   light_  pieces,  vast  supplies  of 
small  arms  and  ajtimunitiou,  and  a  great  many  horses  and 
negroes.  "  *      ' 

Our  Cavalry  was  posted  in  the  jDlace  till  the  next  day,' 
foraging  our  famished  horses  on  the  \i^st  Quartermaster 
Garners.  On  the  next  day  all  the  troops  were  hurried  up 
the  river  and  crossed  at  Shepherdstwonandrc-jpiningLong- 
strcet  on  the  Antietam  creek,  near  Sharpsburg,  Maryland. 
Early  next  morning,  our  difterent  Corps,  sadly  reduced 
by  pressing  marches,  took  position  on  the  north  side  of  the 
Antietam  creek,  the  enemy  being  drawn  up  along  the  base 
of  the  mountain  on  the  other  side,  and  early  began  ad- 
vancing in  force  upon  our  position.  As  the  sun  rose  his 
gay  blue  uniforms  and  bright  and  glittering  weapons  eon- 


trasteii  strongly  wilii  the  liiisty  thread-bare  apparel  and  uu- 
poliehed  weapons  of  Lee's  "  Rebel  army."  The  battle 
opened  with  a  free  use  of  artillery  on  botli  sides,  soon  -fol- 
lowed by  a  general  roar  of  musketry  along  the  entire  line. 
The  enemy  massed  heavy  forces  and  bore  down  with  all 
his  fury  on  our  loft.  But  the  indomitable  Jackson  met 
him  with  his  usual  coolness  and  determination,  repulsjng' 
and  driving  him  back  a  mile  and  a  half.  In  the  center 
the  intrepid  Lojigstreet  with  D.  11.  HiU's  corps,  after  a 
desperate  and  bloody  struggle  drove  him  too,  back  from 
this  point  with  heavy  slaughter.  On  our  right,  about  3 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  Gen.  A.  T.  Ilill  was  advancing 
Irom  Harper's  Ferry,  and  came  up  just  in  time  to  meet  the 
enemy  as  he. was  making  a  bold  demonstration  in  that  di- 
rection, which  was  hell  ynly  by  Jenkiu's  and  a  part  of 
Toomb's  ]^rigades,  they  had  driven  this  little  force  before 
them,  and  were  dashii^  across  the  ifntietam  with  every 
show^  ofsuccess.  P.ut  at  this  juncture  the  timely  arrival 
of  the  latter  corps,  changed  the  fortune  at  this  point,  and 
after  an  obstinate  contest  that  lasted  from  five  o'clock  till 
dark,  the  enemy  was  driven  into  and  across  the  Creek  with 
great  loss.  During  the  light  the  Federal  sharp-shooters' 
had  picked  oli  and  disabled  nearly  every  man  of  a  Battery 
of  the  Washington  Artillery,  which  had  been  coufipicuonsly 
effective  in  the  fight.  Gen.  Longstreet  being  near  and 
discerning  t"he  cause  of  its  silence  he  dismounted  and  with 
the  assistance  of  nis  staff  worked  one  of  the  guns  until  the 
crisis  was  over.  As  it  has  been  remarked,  "To  see  a  tren' 
eral  officer  wielding  the  destinies  of  a  great  fight,  with  its 
carea  and  responsibilities  upon  his  shoulders,  performing 
the  duties  of  a  common  soldier,  is  a  picture  indeed,  worthy 
of  the  pencil  of  an  artist."  The  sun  set  upon  one  of  the 
most  ^Jesperate  and  bloody  fields  of  the  war.  The  Confed- 
erates resting  that  night  on  their  arras  at  every  point  con- 
siderably in  advance  of  tl  eir  position  in  the  morning. 
And  the  question  may  be  asked  :    Why  did  we  not  pursue 


the  eneuiy  up?  Simply,  bocaase,  from  tiio  topography  ot 
the  country,  where  he  was  driven  against  the  mountain 
sides,  would  have  given  him  signally  the  advantage  "  over 
us.  And  tVom  the  causes  a boVc  mentioned  our  forces  were 
too  much  reduced  to  have  relinquished  their  hold  and  at- 
tempted a  iiank  movement.  On  the  next  day,  Thursday, 
from  our  position  of  the  day"before,  the  challenge  was 
early  thrown  out  to  renew  tlie  engagement,  but  the  beaten 
foe  let  the  gauntlet  lie. 

It  is  no  exageration  to  say  our  atmy  went  into  this  bat- 
tle reduced  50  per  cent.,  worried  out  by  tasting,  incesant 
marching  and  lighting,  not  more  thai)  35,000  of  onr  brave 
troops  could  be  counted  on  that*  desperate  day.  For,  as 
the  columns  of  many  of  the  corps  had  to  bo  rushed  in  al- 
*  most  double-quick  marches  to  makej;he  time  to  gain  their 
respective  positions,  many  a  willing  comrade  fell  out  for 
miles  alqng  the  road  from  sheer  exhaustion.  And  it  is  a 
base  slander  upon  our  brave  and  noble  soldiery  to  say  that 
Lee's  army  "  straggled  on  that  day.'  ifo,  to  have  seen 
the  pale  emaciated  soldier,  sfeemingly  with  nothing  but  an 
invisible  spirit  bearing  him  on,  dispensing  with  every  in- 
cumbrance save  his  musket  and  cartridge  box,  halting 
al  g,  flinching  at  every  step,  as  he  hesitatingly  set  his 
bh  Jing  feet  down  upon  the  stony  surface  ;  and  then  sink 
do'»^h  under  the  goading  effect,  was  a  rare  comment  upon 
heroism  !  Yet  some  pusilanimous  NewsjJaper  Generals  and 
army  critics,  called  this  "  stragling."  Xo,  if  your  unfeeling 
hearts  bu<-  possessed  an  inlinitismal  part  of  your  victim's 
virtue,  t  Jn  you  might  with  some  degree  of  assurance 
criticise  behind  youi'  paper  if'aUs  and  staff para^pets. 

McClellan,  with  an  army  already  four  times  as  large  as  our 
own  and  with  reinforcements  coming  up,  aretrogade  move- 
ment was  deemed  practicable  under  the  circumstances;  as 
every  day  would  strengthen!  the  enemy,  and  in  our  present 
position,  the  means  for  adding  anything  to  our  strength 
was  sadly  beyond  our  reach.     Accordingly  our  forces  T^ero 


withdrawn  late  Thursday  night  and  Friday  luorniDg, in  the 
face  of  our  foe,  and  eafejy  're-cros::fd  the  Potomac -nerir 
Sht'phcidstown  at  one  single  ford.  Thia  important  jeni 
was  accomplished  in  the  t^pace  oX  twelve  hours.  -Sustaiu- 
ing  no  material  loss  and  withput  any  interru]/tion  on  the 
part  of  the  enemy.    ■»  .     , 

In  this  short  bat  eventful  campaign,  our  wholejoss  was 
inside  seven  thousiind  raeu ;  whiJo  tlie  enemy,  according 
to  his  own  coufcBsion,  Avas  over  forty  thousand  killed 
wounded  and  taken  prisoners.  But  8s  is  usually  llie.caso. 
our  loss  was  mingled  with  some  of  our  brave  and,  best 
officers.  The  brave  *aud  heroic  Garland,  the  noble  Starke, 
and  the  gallant  JLJranch  ofi^orth  Garolina  laid  down  t-lipir 
lives  upon  the  alter. of  their  country; 

And  with  such  proud  rccor^;!  of  your  fame  ; 

Your  bodies  may  sleep  wrapt  iu  gore. 
But  as  long  aS  liberty  bears  a  riarae, 

Your  spirits  will  be  cherish'd  evermore. 

.'    ■'"  •     .  ' 

Yet  there  was  still  a  bloody  "episode  to  mark  the  clpse  if 
this  campaign.  The  enemy,  about  10  o'plock  on  Friday, 
had  wiiii  his  heavy  Parot  guns,-  at  long  taw,  cdmn'  i?ccd  a 
show  of  pursuit.  Our  troops  on,  the  opposite  ^  ,,  were 
seen  hurrying,  as  under  semblance  of  a  retreat,  oja^  on  the 
difi'crcnt  roads  leading  from  ShepherJstown;  but  ideally 
retiring  covertly  behind  the  adjoicent ' hil,ts.  WhilQ  the 
rear  guard,  three  Brigades  pf  "Infantry  ,un4$r  Brigi^dier 
General  Pendleton,  were  posted  on  the  o,  ;-^it  bai\k  of 
the  river,  near  the  passage,  at  Botellcr's,  Mii|l,r,coi¥,i?iA^^- 
ing  which  Vve  had  masked  35  pieces  of  Artillery,  ^d  with 
five  or  six  pieces  exposed  in  advance,  making  a^faint  s|iovr 
of  resistance,  falling 'back  slowly  from  one  position  t9  an- 
other, before  the  advancing  enemy's  Batteries,  th^t  were 
i)eing  furiously  plied  from  the  opposite  side..  La^e.ij^  the 
evening  u  large  force  of  the  enemy,  consisting  of  nparly 
three  entire  Divisions,  came  pouring   over  with  Haunting 


36 


colors  and  defiant  sKoiits.     And;"^hen  fy.v 
Batteries  were  imoovercd   amt  t^/ith  A.  P.  Hii'.'i  u: 
pounced   suddenly   down  .upon   hi??  'coi^f.-'^nt   L'^\', 
driving  them  like  chaff  before   t'ne^wind,  ilo™n    into    i\w. 
narrow  passage^  where  tbc?  cmfiladiiig -fiVc  of  mir  battories 
were  plowing  and  raldug  bis  ranks  in    a;   most  frightful 
manner,  and  from  the  crowded  gorge,  friglilcn^"!  rr^^^< 
would  indiscriminately  break,  panic-stri<5keu,  r;^ 
ot  tbe  river,  but  finding  themselves  hemnicd  in  iVom  that 
quarter,  and  in  many  instances,  to  escr^-"  ■  ''  ■  bayonets  of 
our  impetuous  soldiery  they  wonld'plun  ■  •  over  these 

precipitous  bluffs,  shattered  on  the  rocky  rann.^cs  beneath  ! 
Tbo  scene  was  truly  'appalling;  Tlie  wide,  s^'hnllow  fording 
vvas  filled  with  dead  bodies,  and  the  woun'^led.  wbo  woifld 
chance  to  fall  in  the  stream  were  suffocated  in  the  water 
by  the  liuj-rying,  beedlesstrcad  of  the  living.  All  organi- 
zation was  destroyed,  and  as  the'broken  remnants  would 
reach  the  opposite  bank  they  would  continue  in  the  wild- 
est disorder  across  the  hills.  Ancl  why  no  token  bf  sur- 
render was  hung  out  to  stop  this  fearful  slaughter,  was  a 
tpiestion  with  the  conscience  of  the  comtnander  of  this 
ill-iatcd  expeditiori. 

.  Our  loss  was  only  200  in  killed  and.  wounded,  while  'the 
Yankee  loss  must  have  been  at  least  two-thirds  of  their 
number  in  killed,  wounded,  and  prisoners.  Thus  ended 
this  bloody  campaign,  leaving  the  enemy  crippled  and 
beaten  on  his  own  soil,  from  which  he  lav  coweriuo:"  una- 
ble  to  move  for  months. 

It  is  but  candor  to  say, .that  in  entering  Maryland  the 
Confederates  had  two  objects  in  view:  First,  to  give  her 
pent  up  sympathy  a  chance  to  burst  forth  and  join  us  in 
physical  resistance.  And,  however,  much  we  arc  di^^posed 
to  revere  that  sympathy  which  has  always,  and  still  exists 
there  for  our  cause,  the  reluctance  and  tardiness  of  her 
people  failed  to  meet  the  occasion.  For  "they  who  would 
be  free,  must  themselves  strike  the  blow."    In  the  second 


place,  our  victorious  arms  had  just  drivL-ii  the  eueiii}  before 
us  behind  tlx?  walls  at  Wftshington,  aiid^by  threatening  his 
oountrv,  would  draw  him  out  and  bring  the  matter  to  a 
nearer  issue.  The  former  was  surrounded  by  circum- 
stances over  ■which  we  hac^'  no  control,  and  how  far  we 
controlled  the  circumstances  of  the  latter,  the  facts  of  the 
campaign  have  fully  tleraonstratcd  to  the  world. 

The  day  after  the  Antietam  light,  our  cavalry  were 
placed  on  duty,  some  distance  to  the  left  njvthc  river,  and 
in  the  evacuation,  were  cut  off  from  the  fording  at  Shep- 
herdstown.  But  on  Friday  night,  by  a  circuitous  route  up 
th<)  river,  passing  round  a  largo  body  of  ^'aiikee  forces, 
windiirg  down  steep- and  dangerous  cliffs  that  scorned  im- 
passable for  man  and  beast,  helter-skelter,  down  the  rug- 
ged acclivity,  we  were  plunged  into  the  channel  of  the 
river — a  fording  that  an  Indian  p<^ny  would  snort  and  turn 
away  frorii — our  horses,  after  blundering  over  rocks,  then 
j)lunging  through  eddying  whirlpools,  dripping  and  chilled, 
we  n;ached 'the  Virg'fnia  side.  Following  up  the  train  of 
our  narrative,  we  proceeded  to  Martinsburg,  from 
■\yhence,  a  fuw  days'-after,  (ien.  Stuart  dashed  across  the 
Potomac  into  Williamsport  and  drove  the  enemy  from 
that  place,  killing  a  number  and  capturing  a  quantity  of 
prisoners  and  arms,  with  a  small  loss,  returned  again,  and 
estq,blished  headquarters  at  Martinsburg,  where,  a  few 
days  after  this  affair,  the  Yankee  cavalry  undertook  to  pay 
hini  back.  They  came  dashing  up  the  Shepherdstowu 
road,  driving  in  our  pickets  and  scouts  to  the  skirts  of  the 
town.  Hampton's  cavalry  was  falling  back  before  them, 
while  Lee's  was  dashing  round  to  get  in  their  rear.  Per- 
ceiving this,  they  suddenly  wheeled  and  broke,  back.  Lee 
immediately  set  after  tliem,  supported  by  Hampton,  kill- 
ing and  capturing  several,  audit  was  by  making  the  fastest 
possible  speed  that  the  whole  expedition  saved  themselves 
from  capture. 


STUART'S  CAVALRY  EXPKDITIOIS^  INTO  PENN- 
SYLVANIA—PREPARATIONS 'FOR  THE  EXPE- 
DITION—TROOPS COMPOSING  THE  EXPEDL 
TION— CROSSING  TJIE  POTO^IAC-SURPRISING 

'  THE  -ENEMY'S  PICKETS— THE  SUCCESSFUL 
PASSAGE  THROI^GH  THE  RIGHT  WING  OF 
McCLELLAN'S  ARMY- AND  MARYLAND  INTO 
THE  STATE  OF  PENNSYLVANIA — HORSE- 
PRESSING  ORDERS  ISSUED— TAKING*  OF  MER- 
CERSBURG.  ST.  THOMAS,  AND  OHA^IRERS- 
BURG. 

Our  command  was  quietly  laying  arouLd  Martinsburg, 
picketing  on  the  lines  of  the  upper  l^otomac,  and  having 
to  a  considerable  extent' recruited  the  nerves,  of  both  man 
and  horse  ;  "vvhich  had  been  seriously  drawn  upon  by  the 
incessant  and  arduous  labours  of  the  Maryland  campaign. 
Wq  were  here  in  this  beautiful  and  romantic  region  of  the' 
Old  Dominion,  enjoying  ourselves  with  as  much  -^  oiium 
cum  digniiaie  "  as  a  soldier's  life  would  admit  of.  The  first 
leaves  of  autumn  had  just  began  to  fall ;  the  neighboring 
mountain  peaks  were  doffing  their  summer  green,  and  fast 
assuming  the  bronzed  hue,  and  as"  the  bugles  unwelcome 
morning  sound  would  cause  the  soldier  to  peep  from  his 
blankets,  the  first  traces'  of  Jack  Frost  could  be  seen  upon 
the  half  crisped  fallen  leaf ;  while  the  we.itherfWorn  trooper 
with  repeated  strokes  of  his  curry-comb  to  smooth  the 
rough  haii"  of  his  faithful  steed,  would  soliloquize  to  him- 
self, "  Well,  I  do  wi.sh  old  Stuart  and  Hampton  was  as 
tired  uv  these  ere  parts  as  I  am  ;  we'd  'git'  a  little  fur- 
ther inter  I^ixie  than  this ;  as  these  ere  cold  mornin  winds 
from  the  mountins  blows  our  loose  rags,  open  the  bare 
places  a  little  cuttin,  and  our  toes  peeps  a  leetle  too 
impidently  thru  our  old  shoes  for  this  ere  white  thing  on 
the  leaves  uv  mornins;  and  out  uv  respect  fur  us  they 
ortcr  consider  the  policy.     Aiul  beside.^  jist  tu  lliiuk   uv 


;-iS 


oui  ^ijvi  M  li.t  brutes..  Why,  thar  was  Jackaou's  army, 
passed  tliru  these  parts  last  roasfmg-ear  time,  and  they 
cleaned  the  corn-tiolJs  ai'ore  the  luiJk  tilled  the  grain,  and 
so  horso  .stock  cant  ^laud  it  uiuch  longer.  And  so  its  pol- 
icv  to  'git"  farther  South  any  way  you  look  at  it.  13ut 
I  reckon  old  Stuart  and  Hampton  Itnows  best."  Such 
rude  surijiibes  were  frequent  from  tiic  humblest  private  in 
the  command^  and  even  the  "reliable  gentlemen  "from 
head  quarter*  wouid*  quaintly  give  out  that  a  backward 
jn'ove  was  Hudeiway.  In  fact,  all  outward  appearances 
gcem6d  indicative  of  a  "fall  back."  AV'hile  we  were 
re2:aliug  ouroolves  over  the  idea  of  getting  where  we  could 
hear  a*  railroad  whistle  again,- or  open  conlmuuicatiou  with 
liome  once  more,  orders  were  issued  to  the  ditfcrcnt  com- 
mands of  the  Division  for  a  detachment  of  picked  men 
mounted  on  the  best  horses,. to  prepare  five  days'  rations, 
for  a  scout  on  the  ensuing  day ;  yet  still  the  idea  of  cover- 
ing a  "fall  back"  w-as  entertained  by  officers  and  men. 

On  the  entjuing  day,  Oct.  9th,  at  2  o'clock,  we  "fell  in  " 
and  took  up  line  of  march,  but  found  our  horses  heads 
turned  northward.  The  whole  force  was  comprised  of 
detatchments  from  Hamptom's,  Lee's  and  Mumford^'s  cav- 
aliy,  and  a  small  detachment  from  Scott's  partizan  corps, 
with  one  section  of  mounted  artillery  accompanying  each, 
all  told,  2,500  men.  Led  by  Stuart  himself-^dashing  along 
on  his  little  dark  bay  .favorite,  in  his  usual  don't-care  dare-- 
devil  style,  white  the  cheerful  deep-cunning  expression  of 
his  features  betokening  some  one  of  his  favorite  "tricks  " 
ahead,  while  Hampton  rode  along  at  his  usual  easy- 
trotting  style,  as  though-he  was  just  going  out  to  look  over 
his  bi'oad  cotton-ficlds.  Leaving  the  town  of  Martinsburg 
to.the  i-ight.  and  passing  along  the  base  of  the  north  range 
of  the  Biuc  Ridge  whi'ch  breaks  off  into  hills  as  it  n ears 
the  Polumac,  we  .passed  through  Hedgcsville  and  beyond 
oyr  outer  picket  posty  where  the  column  was  halted  and 
rested  till  dark :  within  ear-shot  of  the  roaring  waters  of 


3'J 


the  Potomac.  xVfter  good  dark,  the  comraand  resumed 
tlie  inarch  and  was  advancing  cautiously  over  a  narrow 
by-way  in  the  direction  ot  the  river,  to  within  a  mile*  of 
tHo  crossing  ;  and  here  we  were  halted  for  the  night.  Two 
reconoitering  parties  were  thrown  out,  one  under  Lieut. 
Philips  of  Cobb's  Legion,  and  the  other  under  Lieut.  Bar- 
rier, ot"  the  North  Carolina  cavalry,  led  by  Hampton  in 
person.  After  a  successful  reconnoitcr,  it  was  ascertained 
that  the  enemy  had  no  pickets  on  this  bank  of  the  river; 
but  we  discovei-ed  their  posts  immediately  on  the  other  side 
of  the  ford,  beyond  the  culvert  of  the  canal,  which  opens 
to  the  ford.  Here,  content  with  our  discoveries,  the  party 
bivouaced  the  remainder  of  the  night, , on  this  side,  behind 
the  cliffs  that  overhang  the  banks  -above  the  ford,  until 
nearly  day-break ;  when  Gen.  Hampton  detached  fifteen 
(15)  men  from  the  party,  and  placed  them  under  Lieut. 
Philips  and  dispatched  them  across  the  river  on  an  old 
fish-dam,  a  quarter  of  a  mile  above  the  ford,  to  surprise 
and  bag  the  post  at  the  ford  ;  ai^i  the  remainder,  under 
Lieut.  Barrier,  were  posted  among  the  cliffs  along  the 
banks  for  a  support,  in  case  the  party  on  the  opposite  side 
should  become  pressed.  Day  was  just  dawning;  our  com- 
rades could  be  seen  slyly  creeping  under  cover  of  the  canal 
banks— making  their  way  successfully  without  any  inter- 
ruption to  the  mouth  of  the  culvert.  One  more  dash  and 
the  game  is  in  their  hands.  But  suddenly  out  dashed  a 
grim  Bull  Terrier  dog,  with  snarly  gnashes,  to  dispute  the 
passage  of  th6  culvert*  which  merely  gave  notice'  to  the 
sentinel  to  scamper  off  without  even  firing  his  piece, 
w>.i!o  the  reserve  was  immediately  onslaughtered,  and  the 
quick  and  successive  cracks  of  our  carbines,  and  the  excited 
exclamations  "kill  them!  kill  them  !  here  goes  the  d — d 
blue-backed  rascals."  Which  gave  us  to  understand  that 
our  support  was  no  longer  required,  and  every  man  to 
horse,  and  across  we  dashed,  and  found  one  "  blue-back  " 
lying  bleeding,  while  earnest  leg-bail  had   succeeded  in 


;  ii 


getting  otl  his  comrades,  which  caused  a  stajnpede  along 
the  whole  line,  and  liad  it  not  been  ior  the  timely  notice 
of  their  faithtnl  doir  in  tho  culvert  the  body  would  have 
been  nicely  bagtd  ;  as  at' the  time  the  reserve  Avere  rega- 
ling themselves,  near  bj'  in  a  little  shanty,  at  "  seven  up," 
little  dreaming  thai  their  game  bo  early  in  the  morning, 
would  be  "triimptcd  "  by  rebel  intrusion. 

At  this  rough  and  difficult  ford  the  whole  command, 
artillery  and  all-  .speedily  and  gafoly  crossed  over;  and  on 
we  hurried  over  a  narfow  and  ditiicult  defile  through  tlie 
liills  of  the  westerii  i>5iit  of  Washington  county,  capturing 
the  balance  ol  our  stampedi^ag  P'H't}',  "vvho  ran  into,  our 
columu  before  they  were  a\\are  of  our  presence.  Having 
pursued  this  road  about  five  miles,  where  it  crossed  the 
turnpike  leading  irom  llagerstown  to  Cumberland, 
we  found  that  we  had  run  against  the  rear  of  .a 
X)ivisi<>ii  of  Yankee  Infantry,  moving  on  to  Cumbcvland. 
Jiist  at  this  point  our  advan^  came'  upon  their  rear  guard 
and  took  a  batch  of  them  prisoners,  and  also  captured  one 
stand  of  colors,  which  sudden  and  unexpected  onslaugh, 
put  their  whole  command  in  confused  commotion  and 
caused  them  to  make  fast  time  down  the  pike  in  the.  direc- 
tion of  Cumberland.  Their  burning  vehicles  behind  gave 
full  evidence  tljat  the  skedaddling  maneuver  was  in  active 
play,  but  as  Stuart'.s. business  did  not  lay  on  their  loute, 
they  were' permitted  to  "double-quick"  along  uninter- 
rupted from  their  own  shadows.  Here  we  crossed  this 
pike  and  pursued  our  march  along  a  narrow,  difficult  by- 
way," following  the  north  side  ol  a  range  of  mountains, 
through  a  rocky  bleak  and  almost  barren  region,  with  here 
and  there  a  lonely  cabin  to  relieve  the  wild  s'cvenery.  Hav- 
ing moved  on  some  ten  miles  through  this  wild  region,  we 
founil  ourselves  crossing  the  kist  ridge  of  this  range,  emer- 
ghiLs-  out  down  into  a  beautiful  and  expansive  valley  !  know 
as, '-JJlair's  Valley,"  surrounded  by  an  extensive  range, 
knovMi  as    the    "Short    Hill"    range,    wdiich    breaks    ofl 


#  u 

gradually  into  lesser  bills  as  the  Blue  Kidge  uears  the 
Potomac,  which  to  the  eye  of  the  casual  beholder  sectns  as 
steps  to  the  summit  of  her  lofty  peaks.  The  day  was  uot 
a  bright  one.  Thin  vap.ory  clouds  Avere  overspreading 
the  heav.eus.  The  sun's  pale  face  looked  dimly-  through 
the  gatheringclouds,  and  the  distant  ridges  seemed  wrapped  • 
in  a  mysty  blue,  and  the  ."scar  and  yelloAv  leaf,"  at  every 
breeze  was  loosing  itS'hold  and  came  rustling  down  arouud 
us.  ^uch  a  seen  was  indeed  truly  calculated  to  ^engender 
melancholy  feelings.  But  as  the  "-broad-acres  "  of  Penn- 
sylvania stretched  out  before  us  just  at  tl  e  fool  of  the  last 
hill,  although,  we  were  impressed  with  our 'hazardous  sit- 
uation, having  just  passed  through  and  jverc  in  the  rear  of 
tlje  right  wing  of  McClellan's  grand  army,  yet  every  sol- 
dier's fiice  betokened  emotions  of  inward  joy,  our  backs 
on  the  last  rugged,  cliffty  hills,  placed  us  beyond  the  limits 
of  Maryland.  The  "  Ultima  Thule  "  of  Southern  invasion 
was  passed.  We  were  indeed  on  the  hostile  soil  of  proud 
and  defiant  Pennsylvania  ;  who  sixteen  months  before  was 
going  to  make  a  light  breakfast  out  of  the  South  herself 
alone.  But  the  rebel  key  had  unbolted  and  rolled  away 
the  keystone  of  the  "glorious  old  arch  "  wide  enough  for 
Stuart's  rebel  cavalry  to  pass.  ISTo  demonstration  whatever 
marked  the  event,  as  the  column  moved  quietly  forward 
from  the  brirders  of  Franklin  county,  wliere  we  entered. 
It  seemed  that  a  simple  reflection  on  our  situation  would 
call  forth  misgivings  in  the  bosom  of  the  most  sanguine. 
But  the  over.weeniug  confidence  in  our  true  and  tried 
leader,  would  chide  any  such  a  thought  and  nerve  it  with 
stronger  confidcuce  and  deeper  determination. 

On  we  moved  over  a  private  country  road,  through  the 
secluded  entrance  of  this  valley,  that  had  never  been 
trampled  by  an  q^rmcd  foot  of  either  friend  or  foe.  The 
unsuspecting  inhabitants  met- and  hailed  us  p.s  union 
troops,  and  no  assertion  to  the  contrary  was  likely  to  disa- 
buse their  minds  of  the  fact  that  we  were  rebels  ;  and  even 


42 

"  :  en  the  hoTse-pressing  orders   were   put    in  execution 
'  the 01,  they  would  look  incredulously  after  us  as 
^  Tiding  their  faithful  steeds  off  hefore  their  eyes. 
;noe,   we'  will  here  give  iin  amusing  incident 
'  ctwoen  an  old- Dutch  farmer  and  a  party  of 
,     •^.   J  V  wO  were  scouring  the  country  ?ome  distance 
;V«iUi.tue  road.     They  rode   xi])   unceremoniously  to  his 
large;  brick  barn   that  stood  a  short   distance  Jfrora  the 
dwetling,  dismounted  at  the  barn-yard  gate,  and  wore  pro- 
ceeding to,  th#  stables.     He  and- his  fat  better-half  were 
standing  in  the  piazza  watching  the  movement  at  the  barn 
in  astonishment;  p,nd,  as  the  foremost  entered  the  stables, 
lie  hurried  down,  and  in  almost  breathless  excitement  he 
accosted  theparty :  "Oude  raornint  men  !  Gude  mortiint! 
.         t  dush  dis  mean  ?"     lie  was  informed  that  we  just 
v\  aiiL.-J  his  horses.     Betraying  feelings  of  smothered  anger 
and  vexation,  he  exclaiiiicd  :  "Mine  bosses  !  Mine  bosses  ! 
^y?  jou  shoust  can't  hav  tem  agin.     Vy,  ven  you   tarn 
Jlomc- Guards*  had  tem  afore  you,  you  shoust  keep  tem 
vnn,  veek  over  dc  time,  and  ven  you  did  pring  deni  home 
n^it  der  ^^aeks  all  sore  and  skint  up. "    Continuing  in  a  more 
vehement  strain,  "Ivould  shoust  so  leave  old  Shackson 
vould  cum  tish  way  and  take  do  last  tarn  vun  uv  you  Home 
Guards  as  tu  let  you  hav  mine  bosses  vun  time  more.     Vot 
vur  you   vant  tem-  cny  how?"     He  was  apprised,  good 
bumoredly,-  that  Jeff.  Davis  wanted  them  this  time.     With 
emotions  of  the  wildest  surprise  and  amazement,  hardl}' 
awaiting  tcwarticulAte  one  word  before  he'd  catch  another: 
"  ShoS'  Tavis  !     Sheff  Tavis  !     Mine  Got !     Yot  ish  Shelf 
Tavis  got  tu  du  mlt  mine  bosses?    Mine  Got!     He  vill 
never  send  tem  pack !"     In  the  meantime  the  stock  was 
■  haltered  and  moving  oH'.     Old  Dutch  had  seen   that  his 

•  *  When  o\if  forces  threatened  Pennsylvania  from  Maryiand  the  border 
counties  repolved  themselves  into  an  organization  called  the  librae 
Guards,  and  bad  pressed  the  farmer's  teams  to  transport  iheir  baggage. 


protesfs  aud  remonstratioDs  were  unavailing.  'lie  imme- 
diately ran  violently  towards  the  houses  hallooing  to  his 
better  half,  who  was,  too,  vehemently  joining  lier  protests, 
exclaiming  in  an  earnest  veiit,  "old  voman  !  old  voman  I 
plow  de  hou!"  She  snatched  ^own  the  old  tin  instrument 
hanging  at  th6  door,  and  with  her  liabby  jaws  inflated  to 
their  fullest  tension,  she  blowed  most  lustily,  striding  the 
piazaa  froni  one  end  to  the  other,- and  kept  blowing  till  we 
were  out  of  hearing.  What  this  strange  proceeding  meant 
was  a  question,  unless  it  savored  of  the  old  Scottish  idea  of 
winding  the' horn  when  the  re^lm  was  invaded,  and  her 
tin"  horu  reverberations  were  to  call  to  arms  those  valorous 
Home  Guards  the  old  man  so  much  derided  when  his 
horses  wcr^  brought  in  question;  but  those  modern  lords 
of  war  did  not  heed  her  horu  incantations;  as  this  little 
detacliment,  without  any  interruption,  joined  the  com- 
mand at  Mercersburg,  on  the  turnpike  leading  from  Green- 
castle  to  Chambersburg.  Ilere  a  faint  resistance  was  made 
by»  those  valorous  Home  Guards,  who  retired  at,  our  ap- 
proach and  secreted  themselves  in  an  old  wood  shop  at  ^e 
farther  end  of  the  town,  from  which,  about  fifty  yardj^ 
from  the  main  street,  they  poured  a  volley  into  our  advance. 
The  old  shop  was  onslaughted,  and  without  any  farther 
demonstratio^i,  the  whole  party  were  captured,  except  one 
who  attempted  to  escape  by  jumping  out  of  a  window; 
but  a  bullet  from  oue  of  our  carbines  took  him  "on 'the 
wing,"  striking  him  lifeless  iii  his  leap;, whom,  doubtless, 
the  sickly  sentimentality  of  his  burghers  would  range  him 
on  the  calendar  of  northern  heroes.  This  belligerent 
party  proved  to  be  rathor  hard  looking  specimens  of  hu- 
iviaulty,  and  when  they  saw  our  full  columns  moving  up' 
.  dioy  betrayed  terrible  emotions  of  childish  fright,  and  were 
surprised  atnotbcing  dis})atchcd forthwith,  and  others,  com- 
ing out  to  the  rescue,  when  taken,  even  with. guns  in  their 
hands,  denied  having  any  complicity  in  the  affair.  With 
such  spirits  as  these,  it  was  not  a  matter  of  wonder  tha^t 


old  liutch's  ''born  incantatiou^"'  had  uo  charm.  The 
column  here  halted  a  short  time,  and  about  2  o'clock, 
resunipd  the  march  on  the  turnpike  leading  to  Chambers- 
bur^%  some  eighteen  miles  distant.  On  our  way  we  cap- 
.♦tured  St.  Thomas,  a  considerable  town,  which  made  no  re- 
sistance. We  pursued  our  march  on  through'a  cold  drench- 
ing rain,  swelling  our  "  led-horse''  train  as  we  moved  on, 
which  presented  the  appearance  of  additional  reinforce- 
ments. ♦  • 

About  5  o'clock,  p.  lu.,  wc  found  ourselves  before  the 
city  of  Chambersburg  and  demanded  its  surrender.  This 
inland  city  is  beautifully  situated  in  the  midst  of  a  rich  and 
productive  valley,  on  a  line  of  railroad  running  from 
Hageretown,  Md.,  to  Ilarrisburg,  containing  about  10.000 
inhabitants.  At  this  point  large  quantities  of  the  enemy's 
army  stores  were  deposited,  which  rendered  it  a  pri^-e 
worthy  of  Stuart's  notice.  The  demand  for  the  surrender 
was  a  conlplete  thundershock-  to  the  astounded  Mayor. 
The  whole  population  seemed  confounded  at  our  presence.* 
Houses,  public  and  private,  were  immediately  closed.  A 
considerable  parleying  was  manifested  by  the  city  author- 
ities; at  which  "Gcu.  iStuart  caused  the  batteries  to  be  or- 
dered into  position  and  the  cavalry  into  line  for  the  attack; 
which  demonstration  soon  brought  them  to  a  decision; 
the  terms  being  immunity  to  private  persons  and  property. 

All  the  army  stores  were  taken  in  charge,  "which  con- 
sisted of  large  quantities  of  Commissary  and  Quartermas- 
ter,Stores,  also  heavy  and  light  Ordnance  Stores.  The 
Quartermaster  department  was  duly  drawn  upon  in  the 
way  of  clothing,  while  the  horses  Were  attired  in  gay- 
Yankee  trappings  and  our  old  rusty  armor  was  immediately 
exchanged  for  the  bright  glittering  cavalry  arms  that  were 
tossed  in  profusion  from  the.  numerous  boxes.  The  city 
was  placed  under  martial  lawi  The  command  was  moved 
out  and  bivouaced  for  the  night,  a  short  distance  east  of  • 
the«city.     And  af'tr-ra  most  disnsrrf cable  cold  rainy  night, 


we  (iecauiped  i^aily  uoxi  monuug.  and  cQ^uitcr-niarched 
back  through  the  streets  and  were  halted,  and  in  looking 
round,  a  lArge  Union  flag  was  seen  lloating  from  the  third 
story  of  a  private  house;  wjiich  unwelcome  emblem  was 
speedily  removed  by  J.  M.  Rea,  Co.  C,  and  Ed.  Misen- 
hammer,  Co.  F.,  of  the  North  Carolina  Cavalry;  which, 
however,  eventuated  in  a  little  issue.  On  accosting. the  pro- 
prietor, he  demured  to  their  admittance,  which  was  imme- 
diately forced,  followed  closely  by  thd  surly  proprietor  to 
the  last  llight  of  stairs,  where  he  was  joined,  from*an  adja- 
eent  room  by  another  grim  determined  lOoknig  personage  ; 
where  surly's  suspicious  move^nents  were  arrested  by  Rea: 
cooly  giving  them  to  understand  that  any  interference  on 
their  part  would  be  readily  met:  and  in  the  face  of  these 
two  devotees  tlie  Ihij:  ^vas  torn  down,  but  thev  failed.  Jack- 
sou-like,  to  seal  their  devotion  with  their  blood.  Doubt- 
less these  two  characters  were  as  brave  in  nerve  as  our 
prototype  martyr,  but  that  indwelling  determination  •  fal- 
tered,' as  the  caiise  was  not  the  same  which  tlioir  favorito 
emblems  bespoke. 

The  observer  would  meet  many  a  scene  calculated  to 
keep  his  attention  in  active  exercise.  At  every  corner 
could  be  seen  groups  of  old  and  young,  conversing  in  an 
undertone,  evincing  symptoms  of  the  deepest  mortification. 
The  sight  of  the  new  blue  clothing  that  dotted  every  com- 
pany in  the  command,  and  the  bright  U.  S.  weapons  dang- 
ling at  our  sides,  was  indeed  a  sore  tax  upon  their  pride. 
But,  notwithstanding  this,  not  the  least  insult  was  offered 
us;  an  assemblage  of  elderly  men  were  overheard  in  a  dis- 
cussion, asserting  that  if  they  had  just  known  dnr  number 
was  no  more  than  they  now  proved  to  be,  tliey  never  would 
have  surrendered,  and  that  it  was  a  disgrace  that  could 
never  be  wiped  out ;  while  souk;  were  chafing  with  wrath- 
ful expressions  that  our  audacity  was  the  most  unparalled 
recklessness  and  that  certainly  before  nigl^^  the  telegraph 
would    welcome   our   capatnre   or   destruction  :    and   the 


Mayor  pubRcly  cxpressod'  liimself,  iis 

were  not  captured  "before  'we  i-e-croi 
v/oukl  be  a  stigraa  upon  ilie  union  av. 
l-e  effaced.  A  j'ounij  Caroliuiiiu  'dre\. 
ver.crable  one  of  these  old  street  dcclaiii.v.i.'-,  v.Lo  ,\  ao  liuLer 
nc-parring  of  bis  ana{liemas,agai)ist  the  rebels,  aud^eli- 
qnircd  of  bim  "wbon  he  thought  we  w^ould  have  pLac6  ?" 
'^  ith  au  assumed  air  of  pomp6sity,  h'fs  said,  "Sir,  not. 
until  this  accursed  rebellion  is  crushed."  '.  ""WeUsii',"  re- 
plied the  first  speaker,  '^  do  you,  wii.h  all'  'th6  evideiied  of 
the  past  eighteen  monies  before  you,  answer  mtj  calKlidly — 
think  .really  that  that  matter  can  be  done  ?!'  • '"  Will-a  " 
hesitatingly,  "we  think-a-so,"  turning  ii^'  a  time  of  exhor- 
tation, "  we  don't  then  expect  to  treat  you  as  conquered 
subjects,  but  wc  are  willing  to  throw  the  vail  of  charity- 
over  all  this,  and  regard  you  as  erring  brethren,  .and  ^vel- 
come  you  again  into  the  glorious  old  Union  as  "brethren. '•" 
"Erring  hrcthrcny"  .indignantly,  inte^rnptt'd  the  yoiing 
Carolinian,  with  his  eyes  flashing  fire,  sarcastically,  "bretli- 
ren!  don't,  pray,  call  us  brethren,  blinded  old  hypocrite. 
Go  and  view  our  desolated  homes  and  wasted  fields,  in  the 
vandal  traclv  of  your 'union  restoring  armj-,' whidh  pro- 
claims such  sentiments  of  brotherliood  a  helli&h  mock- 
ery!" 

"And,  uoYv'  sir,"  he  continued,  "you  crui'c  gain^^.ay  this 
conduct  towards  us,  your  hrdhrcn.-  Let  me  ask,  ha\'c'not 
you  and  your  citizens,  and  their  property,  "been  iii  oiir 
power  since  yesterday,  and  has  either^  sufiered  Ifro in  our 
presence?"  Turning  nervously  round,  he  remained 
silQut.  "  No,"  promptly  responded  an  intelligent  looking 
middle  aged  gentleman  of  the  group.  *' Truly,' levery  one 
of  us,  and  all  we  have,  have  been  and  are  yet  in  your  power, 
and  we  can  scarcely  realize  the  fact  that  no  one  within 
the  bounds  of  this  city  complains  of  an  unjust  act  at  the 
hands  of  your  soldiery;  and  justice  demands  that  we  "tes- 
tify that  you  have  demeaned  yourselves  more  like  gentle- 


men  to  our   Qitizeas- .than   our  owi, 

lhroiU|;li."     "Good- sir,"  lie  continued,  •'.'ulLow -i 

tlie  question,  wLy  it  is  3^0'ur  soldiers^  thus  p' ,,    ,,.  -• 

so  strictly  to  the  principle!?  of  good  C03 

the  strin,gest  discipline  of  your  officers  T'.     IJe  Tfa3  an 

swered,  "simply  because  we  are  g.eutlepaeii  r  *  "i  - ^ 

observe  the  same  abroad."  This  latter  fact 
our  mind  the  causQ  of  the  difierenee  of  the  valor  bctweeir 
the  northern  and  southern  soldiers,  and  thatm  '  ' 
is  the  basis  of  true  courage,  ©ne  liglit'ng  'v^ ' 
vigor  for  their  liberties,  and  the  other  wiLk  indolence  aiid 
neglect,  for  the  power  of  his  oppressors.  ■  Officers  and  nien 
from  the  same  grades  of  society,  contending  for  their  equr>  ■ 
rights,  on  e  as  much  impressed  with  the  principle  as  the  other. 
And,  in  this  connection,  let -it  be  said,  should  an  officer, 
who,  under  the  garb  of  military  discipline,  become  so  in- 
difi'erent  to  tlie  principles  of  equality  as 'to  assume  an 
unwarrantable  relation  of  arrogance  toward  his  men,  he, 
most  assuredly,  is  an  enemy  to  himself  and  ibe  cause.  In 
the  first  place,  when  this  war  shall  have  passed  away,  with 
our  independence,  established,  and  the  days  of  ".ahouldfir- 
straps "  numbered  with  the  things  ,of  the  past,  society 
will  sink  backinto,its  foroaer  peaceful  chauncl-^this. unjust 
bearinjr  will  never  be  forgotten — it  will  be  far  better  for 
such  an  one  had  he  occupied  the  position  of  the  humblest 
private  in  the  ranks.  And,  in  the  secoud  place,  it. tends 
to  promote  an  unprincipled  aristocracy,  contrary  to  the 
genius  of  our  institutions. 

But  to  return  to  the  narrative.  On  the  streets  could  be 
seen  many  able-bodied  young  men  "cutting  the  gent,"  as 
in  peaceful  times ;  and  if  they  had  but  been  imbued  with  that 
country  pride  that  they  so  boastfully  assume,  thCir  morti- 
fication must  have  been  extreme.  AVe  captured  telegraph 
dispatches  in  thcf  office  at  that  place,  (which  had  remained 
as  duplicates,)  to  the  Governor,  up  to  a  fe^y  hours  of  our 
arrival,  which  stated  that  we  were  reported  to  have  enter- 


ed  the  State,  but  that  they  had  no  apprehensions  that  titu- 
art's  "rebel  gang"  would  come  that  way.  and  if  they  did 
have  the  assurance  to  do  i?o,  they  had  a  rcgimeiri  of  iirtan- 
try*und  onebatterj'  of  artillery  in  reach  that  would  take 
care  of  them  amply.  And,  besides,  they  had  plenty  of 
arms,  and  that  the  citizens  would  turii^out,  to  a  man,  and 
o-ive  them  such  a  reception,  as  would  scatter  them  to  the 
four  winds.  .But  when  the  test  canio  what  became  of 
their  "regiment  of  intantry  and  battery  of  artillery,"  and 
the  boasted  reception  that  was  to  meet  us. at  the  hands  of 
their  ''  Home  Palladiums,"  this  deponent  saith  nbt.  But 
it  seemed  that,  "Bob  Acre's  like,"  their  Valor  gently  oozed 
out  at  the  sight  of  Stuart's  little  rebel  hand. 


EVACUATES  THE  CITY— J^ASSAGE  THRO  1; UK 
THE  VALLEY— CROSSES   THE  MOUNTAIN  AT 

•  STEVENS'  GAB— PASSES  SAFELY  OUT  OF  THE 
STATE  INTO  MARYLAND— JOYOUS  RECEP- 
TION— SUCCEEDS  IN  PASSING  THROUGH 
THE  ENEMY'S'  FOR?CES  DURING  THE  NxGIlT 
AND  REACHES  THE  POTOMAC— PERILOUS 
SITUATION,  BUT  AFTER  A  SHARP  SKIRMISH 
SUCCEED  IN.  CROSSING  AND  REACHES  CAMP 
ON  THE  12Tn. 

About  10  o'clock,  a.  m.,  the  coninuuid  took  up  line  oi' 
march,  turning  down  the  turnpike  leading  to  Gettsburg. 
After  setting  fire  to  the  spacious  buildings  containing  the 
army  stores,  we  retired.  The  flames  wrapped  the  build- 
ing, and  for  an  hour,  the  explosions  w'ere  tcrriiic,  shaking 
the  very  earth.  Pieces  of  shell,  fragments  of  timber, 
brick  and  stone,  rent  the  air  for  hundreds  of  yards  around. 
In  moving  on,  the  occasional  bursting  of  a  bomb  that  had 
resisted  the  first  impressions  of  the  fire,  would  strike  the 


49 


car,  an4  give  a  parting  salute  over  the  dyiug  embers  of 
the  charred  remains  of  this  proud  edifice. 

The  march  progressed  along  without  any  marked  inter- 
est save  coiifeiderable  accession  to  the  "led-horse  column," 
and  astonishing  the  natives  to  utter  discomfiture.  Our 
approach  to  the  neighboring  farm-houses  on  tlic  road  was 
heralded  with  a  gathering  in  and  an  irapiediate  closing  of 
the  doors,  as  if  a  menagerie  of  wild  beasts  had  been  turn- 
ed loose  upon  the  country.  To  give  a  further  instance  of 
the  terror  in  which  we  were  held  by  these  unsophisticated 
people:  In  passing  by  a  neat  log  house,  immediately  on 
Xhe  road-side,  a  full,  good  humored  looking  face  of  an 
elderly  lady,  whose  features  bespoke  mingled  emotions  of 
curiosity  and  fear,  Was  peeping  out  of  a  half  closed  door. 
Turning  to'  a  very  old  lady,  standing  a  few  paces  back, 
who  gave  every  expression  of  fright,  and  seemed  remonstra- 
ting with  her  to  desist  from  her  rashness,  smiling  with 
advancing  satisfaction,  ^'"Why,  L  will  look.  Why,  aunt 
Sally,  they  jist  look  like  our  kind  of  folks.  Tho'  they  do 
look  mighty  dirty  and  devilish,  I  don't  believe  they'll  hurt 
a  body."  She  was,-  thereupon,  assured  we  would  not  harm 
her,  but  to  open  the  door  and  take  ajook;  whereupon  the 
door  was  confidently  opened.  She  and  aunt  Sally's  cor- 
poreal dimensions  jammed  the'  entrance  to  its  farthest  ex- 
tent and  stood  gazing  on  the  passing  columns  with  the 
most  intense  curiosity.  "We  passed  through  a  little  moun- 
tain hamlet  called  Longtown,  at  the  foot  pf  the  mountain, 
at  the  upper  end  of  the  valley,  through  Stevens'  Gap,  so 
called  from  an  extensive  Iron  Furnace  at  its.  entrance, 
owned  by  Thad.  Stevens,  of  abolition  notoriet3^  His 
ample  stalls  lay  on  the  road-side  and  contributed  more 
generously  to  the  horse  power  of  the  expedition  than  any 
of  his  tree-negro-loveism  constituents  that  lay  in  our  route. 

Through  this  Gap  we  passed  without  any  interruption, 
and,  enclosed  as  it  was  in  many  places,  by  steep  rugged 
overhanging  cliffs,  a  small  body  of  resolute  men  could 
4 


have  effectually  held  us  iu  check  at  any  of  these  nature- 
provided  points.  At  the  north  entrance  uo  turned  oi¥  the 
pike,  immediately  to  the  right,  on  a  i)rivate  country  road, 
and  passed  iu  four  miles  of  Gettysburg,  where  a  heavy 
force  of  the'  enemy  were  reported  to  lic  stationed  to  make 
a  movement  to  intercept  us  ;  but  we  completely  foiled  their 
vigilance  by  winding  around  by  obscure  roads.  Wheu 
beyond  their  lines  we  fell  into  a  public  highway  running  along 
the  edge  of  Miller's  Valley,  on  the  north  side  of  the  "  Short 
Hill "'  range,  passed  out  of  this  valley  through  Fairfield,  a 
small  country  village,  and  then  across  the  Short  Hills, 
which  passed  us  over  the  Pennsylvania  State  line  into 
Maryland,  near  Emmettsburg,  a  pleasant  and  handsome 
little  village,  at  the  foot  of  these  hills. 

The  sun  was  nearly  down.  Men  and  horses,  jaded 
aimost  beyond  endurance,  having  been  on  a  continual 
move  for  the  past  three  days. '  At  this  place  we  expected 
to  meet  a  Yaukee  cavalry  force,  who  were  reported  to 
have  been  there  during  the  day — supposed  to  be  on  the 
look  out  for  us.  The  commanc^  was  halted  within  a 
mile,  and  an  advance  sent  forward.  So  worn  down  were 
the  men  that  this  little  halt  found  nearly  lialf  the  column 
asleep  on  their  horses,  but  their  snatched  up  repose  was 
.suddenly  interrupted  by  a  succession  of  shouts  that  rang 
along  the  whole  line  of  the  advance.  The  main  body  took  it 
to  be  the  usual  signal  for  a  charge,  and  as  quick  as  thought 
every  man  braced  himself  in  his  saddle  and  the  ct)lumn 
was  hurried  on  to  their  support.  But  what  an  agreeable 
surprise  awaited  us.  Instead  of  meeting  the  Yankee  col- 
umns in  deadly  strife,  the  old  and  young  were  thronging 
the  streets  and  hailing  our  advent  with  shouts  of  the  wild- 
est joy  ;  while  clusters  of  fair  women  and  bevies  of  spark- 
ling maidens  greeted  us  with  expressions  of  the  most 
heartfelt  welcome.  Refreshments  and  beverages  were 
profusely  borne  out  and  distributed  into  the  ranks  by' their 
own.  generous  hands  to  our  wearied  and  hungry  soldiers, 


51 


which  seemed  to  act  as  a  charm  to  the  dull  spirits  and 
exhausted  .frames  of  the  most  way-worn.  When  one  of 
the  troopers  would  chance  to  dismount  he  was  caught  and 
embraced  by  these  lovely'  ones  as  a  brother,  but  he  would 
pay  the  penalty  by  finding  himself  minus  the  last  button 
on  liis  old  coat.  The  fair  little  rogues  would  dart  oiF  and 
tauntingly  twirl  them  between  their  delicate  little  fingers 
to  their  unfortunate  companions  who  had  failed  to  secure 
a  rebel  relict.  This  sudden  heartsome  ovation  from  this 
down-trodden  people  will  ever  call  forth  emotions  of  pleas- 
ing and  grateful  recollections  in  the  bosoms  of  every  reci- 
pient. For,  emerging  as  we  had,  'from  a  deadly  hostile 
community,  where,  could  even  wolnan's  looks  have  been 
daggers,  we  would,  the  last  one  of  us,  shared  a  worse  than 
Siceran  fate.  And,  then,  so  suddenly  to  find  ourselves  in 
an  amosphere  of  such  congeniality,  indeed  inspij-es  feel- 
ings that  can  but  be  imagined.  But  as  the  deepest,  joys 
are  shortest,  we  must  pass  hastily  on,  with  misgivings  and 
heartbodiugs,  to  leave  these  noble  patriots  behind  in  the 
tyrant's  grasp. 

But  let  fetters  ne'er  so  tightly  bind, 

The  limbs  of  those  who  would  be  free ; 
'T  would  be  madder  to  tempt  to  gyve  the  mind 

Than  to  stop  the  rising  tide  of  the  sea. 

* 

So  long  as  the  tyrant  'tempts  to  bind, 
The  oppress'd  people  of  such  noble  soul. 
'  Tho'  he  may  gyve,  they  will  be  free  in  mind. 
As  long  as  the  changely  tide  may  roll. 

No !  Jet  us  not  when  our  bright  sunny  land, 

Is  from  the  vile  tyrant's  grasp  set  free, 
Mock  thee,  with  Maryland  !  my  Maryland  ! 

But  ungyve  your  limbs,  as  your  minds,  so  free. 
Then  hail  thee  as  Maryland  !  my  Maryland  ! 

The  last  rays  of  the  netting  sun  fell  upon  this  devoted 
little  village  as  we  reluctantly  turned  and  bade  her  a  sad 
adieu.     A  body  of  Yankee  cavalry  had  been  here  during 


Jie  day,  awaiting  u[»,  to  a  few   moments  of  our  arrival, 
broke  and  skedadclle'd  at  our  approach,  and  we  were  left  to 
pursue  our  onward  march  without  interruption.     We  turn- 
ed to  the  right  oli  the  turnpike  leading  to  Frcdcricktown, 
some.  25  miles  distant,  which   road,  after  travelling  ten 
miles,  we  left,  and  turned  to  the  left  on  a  private  way, 
crossing  the  Mouocacy  river  twice,  and  bore  again  to  the 
left  passed  through  the  village  of  Woodh^boro',  shortly  after 
dark,  where  we  also  met  a  warm  reception  from  her  sym- 
pathizing citizens;  but  not  calling  a  halt  we  turned  to  the 
left  and  passed  through  Liberty,  a  village,  eight  miles  dis- 
tant from  the  latter  place.     IJere  (it  being  dark)  we  were 
hailed  as  Union  troops,  in  pursuit  of  the  rebel  Stuart.     A 
Yankee  officer,  \yho  seemed  to  be  at  home,  on  his  oars, 
with  hat  flourishing  in  hand,  encouraged  the  passing  col- 
umn, and  hoped  they  would  catch  "old  Stuart  and  his 
rebel  gang"  before  day-light;  and  concluded  by  insisting 
upon  the  officers  to  light  and  take  some  refreshments  with 
him,  who,  for  want  of  time,  asked  to  be  excused,  but  broke 
a  few  bottles  of  champagne  in  the  saddle  with  him.     He 
w^as  tben  politely  informed  that  he  was  Gen.  Stuart's  priso- 
ner, and  that  there  was  a  position   in  the  "rebel  gang" 
for  him.     He,  however,  reluctantly  "fell  in,"  and  mounted 
a  bare-back   "Connestoga  pony,"    and  was  tilled  along. 
Here  we  were  getting  into  "hot  water,"  as  the  Yankee 
forces  were  on  the  move  after  us  on  most  of  the  public 
roads.     We  here  turned  dowvi  the  Baltimore  highway,  and 
passed  on  to  within  twenty-five  miles  of  the  fatter  place. 
Leaving  this  road  to  the  loft,  we  bore  round  in  the  direc- 
tion of  Fredericktown,  but  learning  thai;  a  heavy  force 
■was  at  that  place  we  left  it  five  miles  to  the  right,  and  by 
circuitous  by-ways  successfully  evaded  the  enemy's  pick- 
ets— passed  through  Newmarket  about  3  o'clock,  a.  m. — 
captured  the  telegraph  office  and  recent  dispatches  from 
the  government,  all  enjoining,  the  strictest  watch  out  for 
the  rebels.     Gen.  Stuarf  passed  dispatches  over  the  line 


to  the  authorities  at  Washington,  that  the  rebel  command 
had  gone  up  in  the  direction  of  Harper's  Ferry,  and  that 
it- was  not  necessary  to  send  any  more  troops  below..    The 
wire's  were  then  destroyed  and  the  raih'oad  track  obstruct- 
ed.    After  halting  an  hour  the  command  wasagain  put  in 
^aotion.     Gen.  Stuart,  however,  detached  a  part  of  the  N. 
0.  cavalry,  under  Capt.  Barringer,  and  turned,  with  this 
i?eparate  command,  to  the  right,-,  on  the  road  leading  to 
Urbauna,  while  the  main  body  moved  straight  forward  on 
the  public  highway  to  ITyattstowu,  without  any  incident 
save  the  capture  of  several    arm}'  wagons  moii^ing  after 
their  commands,  which  were  evidently  on  the  move  for  us 
at  th^  different  fordings  below.— just  missing  the  whole 
trains, by  one   hour — thence   by  a  by-way  to  Burnsville. 
Gen.  Stuart,  with  his  detachment,  moved  on  andreached  Ur- 
banna  before  day-break.     Here  he  halted  for  an  hour  and 
breakfasted  at  his  former  headquarters.     This  sudden  and 
unexpected -advent  was  a  matter  of  great  surprise  and  con- 
gratulation to  ■  these    sympathising   people,    whose  warm 
hospitality  we  had  a  few  months  before  enjoyed.     How- 
ever rejoiced,  they  evinced  the  greatest  solicitude  for  Gen, 
Stuart's  safety,  being  in  the  midst  of  the  Yankee  forces. 
One  bod^-  had  just  passed  down  in  the  direction  of  Pools- 
ville  and  another  had  camped  just  a  mile  above,  and  were 
moving  behind :  thus  placing  him  between  the  t^^o  col- 
umns.     He  moved  leisurely   oft  down  the    Washington 
highway.     At  the  far  end  of  the  town  Gen.  Stuart  and 
8ome  of  his  officers  were  riding  in  advance  of  the  column, 
when  they  w^re  accosted   by   an  individual  running  out 
irom  a  harnessed-up  vehicle,  (it  wi^s  just>light)  and  rudely 
said  to  them  :  "  Hey,  my  lads,  which  way  this  morning?" 
Gen.  Stuart  indignantly  drew  up,  and  said,  "  who  are  you 
and  what  are  you  doing  h^re  this  time  in  the  morning?'' 
He  assumed  a  more  obedient  and  respective  tone,  "  Why 
excuse  jue  Major,  I  did  not  know  it  was  really  ye,  sir.     I 
do  hope  ye  will  not  think  hard  of  me,  Major,a8ljistthought 


54 


ye  were  some  o'  the  bovs  i»assing,  and  so  I  hailed  yfe.  You 
sec  these  iufernal  teamsters  got  scared  that  Stuart's  rebel 
cavalry  was  coming  this  ere  way  and  so  they  skedaddled 
oft' last  night  and  left  me  and  one  wagon  alone,  ye  see. 
Why,  these  d — d  rebel  cavalry  are  ivery  whore,  and  that 
d — d  old  rebel  Stuart,  gives  us  more  trouble  than  a  little. 
But  I  think  they  will  stop  him  this  trip,  as  sure  as  fate." 
Here,  to  his  trembling  astonishment  he  was  informed  that 
he  was  Gen.  Stuart's  prisoner,  and  to  drive  out  his  wagon, 
which  proved  to  be  a  well'assorted  supply  of  Sutlers  stores. 
Gen.  Stuart,  with  the  detachment  joined  the  main  body  at 
Burnsville,  having  passed  through  the  enem3''s  lines 
without  encountering  his  pickets. 

The  command  whs  moved  on  cautiously  in  the  direction 
of  Poolsville,  where  there  was  a  heavy  force  to  intercept 
us  on  that  road,  (it  being  about  six'miles  from  this  point 
to  the  river.)  But  after  advancing  to  within  two  and  a 
half  miles  of  the  latter  place,  turned  off  the  road  and  bore 
round  to  the  right,  along  a  fresh  open  way  through  the 
woods  and, fields,  where  there  had  never  been  the  sign" of 
a  road  before.  Skirmishers  were  thrown  out  on  the  right 
and  left,  who  luckily  captured  every  picket  post  of  the 
enehiy  they  came  in  contact  with.  The  main  column 
moved  on  slowly,  feeling  their  way,  till  within  sight  of  the 
Potomac. 

Now  came  the  feat  of  the  expeditipn,  the  recrossing, 
immediately  in  front  of  us  lay  Edward's  Ferry,  also  used 
as  a  fording;  still  four  miles  to  the  left  lay  an  obscure 
crossing,  -  called  Cheek's  Ford.  The  first  was  strongly 
guarded  by  artilfery  and  cavalry.  The  latter  was  supposed 
not  to  be  guarded  at  all,  or  at  least  slightly,  while  heavy 
forces  were  moving  down  from  Poolsville. 
«  A  sudden  dash  was  mad'a  by  a  detachment  of  artillery 
and  cavalry  upon  the  Ferry  ;  which  had  the  effect  of  dri- 
ving the  enemy's  guns  from  his  position,  Avhile  entertain- 
ing him  here,  the  main  body  wheeled  and  moved  hurriedly 


down  to  the  ford  below.  The  guard  on  the  upper  side 
were  all  captured.  But  high  c lifts  jutting -from  the  lower 
side,  completely  overlooking  the  ford,  .were  discox^cred  to 
be  lined  with  the  enerny's  infantry.  With  this  formidable 
obstacle  in  our  front,  his  artillery  and  cavalry  moving  down, 
the  river,  and  a  heavy  body  of  infantry  moving  up  behind, 
every  thing  indeed,  looked  doubtful.  But  the  quick  eye 
of  Gen.  Stuart  met  this  emergency  by  maneuvering  two 
pieces  of  artillery  on  an  eminence  to  the  left  that  over- 
looked these  cliffs ;  and  a  few  well  directed  shell  thrown 
in  their  midst,  cleaned  them  out,  and  a  body  of  our  dis- 
mounted sharpshooters  w^ere  immediately  thrown  in  upon 
them,  driving  them  entirely  off  and  held  the  cliffs  while 
our  other  pieces  entertained,  theirs  furionslj'',  also  kept  a 
fight  up  on  the  upper  passage.  In  the  mean  time  the 
column  was  successfully  crossed  over  at  this  ford,  and  a 
few  pieces  of  artillery  got  in  position  on  the  high  hills  on 
the  Virginia  side,  so  as  to  cover  tlie  other  pieces  in  crossing 
and  just  as  they  were. relinquishing  their  position,' a  brig-< 
ade  of  the  enemy's  infantry  came  double  quicking  down, 
but  a  few  well  directed  shots  thrown  in  their  midst  sent 
them  skedaddling  back  in  confusion.  They  again  reap- 
peared reinforced  by  another  brigade,  but  only  in  time  to 
see  our  rear  gain  the  other  bank,  chagrined  and  disap- 
pointed, thus  they  beheld  their  so  much  coveted  'game 
so  completely  slip  their  fingers.  Which  was  indeed  a  sub- 
ject of  congratulation  to  the  exhausted  trooper  as  he  threw 
his  weary  form  down  upon  the  "green  sward  "  of  the  old 
Dominion  to  rest ;  having  passed  over  a  most  extraordin- 
ary circuit  in  the  short  space  of  three  dnys  and  a  half. 
Surpassing  any  former  movement,  for  celerity,  on  military 
record.  In  1803  it  is  recorded  that  Wellington's  cavalry 
in  India  marched  the  distance  of  60  miles  in  twenty-four 
liours.  Lord  Lake,  it  is  said,  with  his  English  cavalry, 
marched  seventy  miles  in  twenty-four  hours.  Which  'is 
the  nearest  approximation  to  this  march  of  Gen.  Stuarfs 


from  Chambcrsburg,  taking  all  his  circuitous  windiugs  to 
the  Potomac,  was  ninety  miles  in  twenty-two  houi\«,  bring- 
ing successfully  ofi  with  him  a  cumbersome  train   of  cap- 
tured hordes.  And  what  is  more  remarkable,  passed  through 
the  right  wing,  around  the  rear  and  through  left  .ving  of 
McClcllan's  army,  and  for  the  most  part  tlirough  a  deadly 
hostile   country,  without  a  single  casualty,  capturing  400 
prisoners,  destroying  a  million  of  dollars  worth  of  Govern- 
ment stores,  and  bringing  oft" 2,000  head  of  horses.  *     This 
annoying  dash  has  given  their  own  citizens  a  faint  idea  of 
the  sv^eets  of  war.     And  has  taught  them  a  wholesome 
respect  for  us,  as  their  most  rabid  s-heet,  tlie  N.  Y.  Tribune, 
candidly  expresses:  .  "That  Stuart's  gang  of  horse-thieves, 
notwithstanding  tlie  fact  that  they  all  richly  deserve  the 
halter,  made  a  favorable  impression  wherever  they  went. 
We  all  like  pluck,  dash  and  boldness,  even  when  exhibited 
by  high-way  robbers.     The  old  farmers  who  lost  all  their 
horses,  and  as  firm  in  the  support  of  the  union  as  the  hills, 
could  uot  but  admire  the  coolness,  bravery  and  discipline, 
which   characterized  their  every -movemeut.     Compared 
with  Stuart's  cavalry,  our  own  sink  into  insignificance,  and 
seem  about  as  valuable  as  the  crowd  of  dandy  ponies  that 
icallop  up  fifth  avenue  every  pleasant  afternoon." 

We  passed  through  the  patriotic  old  town  of  Leesburg 
amid  the  shouts  and  congratulations  of  her  citizens,  similar' 
manifestations  now  greeted  our  entire  course,  crossed  the 
Blue  Ridge  at  Snicker's  Gap,  and  reached  our  Headquar- 
ters at  Martinsburg  on  the  12th. 

*  And  60  sure  were  t lie  old  faniiere  of  Pennsylvania  of  our  capture 
that  they  bad  come  on  after  tlie  pursuing  coluiun  to  prove  and  Aake 
charge  of  iheir  horee  property. 


.•^< 


EVACITATIUN  OF  >IAETINSBURG,  AND  WITH- 
DRAWAL FROM  THE  VALLEY— CROSSING  THE 
BLUE  RIDGE— ENGAGEMENT  AT  BARBEE'S 
CROSS-ROADS,  GAINS'  CROSS-ROADS,  AT  LIT- 
TLE WASHINGTON:,  AND  LAUREL  MILLS— 
HARRASSES  THE  REAR  OF  THE  YANKEE 
ARMY  IN  MOVING  DOAVN  TO  FREDERICKS- 
BURG—CROSSES  THE  RAPRAHANNOCK  AND 
OPERATES  ACTIVELY  IN' THE  ENEMY'S  LINES. 

Since  the  events  of  .the  last  chapter,  the  command  was 
quietly  keeping  up  the  upper  post  of  the  Potomac.  The 
river  being  the  line,  brought  the  pickets  of  each  party  in 
speaking  distance  of  each  other.  Ar.d  as  there  was  an 
arrangement  not  to  lire  at  one  another  dn  foot,  an  exchange 
of  civilities  was  not  of  unfrequent  occurrence.  Such  pithy 
dialogues  as  the  following  would  occur  between  "  yank" 
and  "  sesesh."  ,        - 

Yank. — (derisively.)  "How  are  ye  boys— don't  you 
want  some  coffee  over  on  yer  side  ?  "    " 

Sesesh. — (aptly.)  "Not. any,  thank  yee,  got  plenty 
from  Pennsylvania.  ' 

Yank. — (gathering  and  coming  again.)  "  Don't  you 
want  some  clothing  over  there  ?  '•' 

Sesesh. — "  Not  a  stitch,  we  got  a  good  supply  at  Harper's 
'  Ferry  and  over  in  Pennsylvania." 

Yank.— (sneeringly.)  "  Why  do  yer  fellers  wear  our 
blue  clothes,  y<|u've  got  a  bran  new  government,  why  don't 
it  furnish  you  in  its  own  glorious  gnxy  ?" 

Sesesh.— "Economy,  egad,  we  got  yours  so  much 
/heiiper." 

Here.yankee  cariosity  seemed  satisfied  at  this  game 
and  assumed  a  more  respective  tone,  and  then  gave  the 
confab  a  more  sociable  cast ;  the  yank  finally  concluding 
by  proposing  to  meet  half  way  in  the  river  and  settle  the, 
•pending  difficulties  over  a  bottle  of  whiskey,  which  woiM 


be  accepted,  meeting  in  a  noucbalanco  air.  to  the  gaze  of 
the  hostile  parties  on  each  baiik. 

On  the  first  of  Xovember,  down  on  the  right,  on  Fitzlee's 
Hue,  in  front  of  Harper's  Ferry,  phe  frequent  pounding  of 
hie  horse' artiller}-,  gave  us  notice  that  the  pent  up  column.'' 
of  McClellau  were  seeking  a  vent  through  the  mountains, 
to  make  another  "on  to  Richmond."  Our  main  army  in 
the  meantime,  were  laying  quietly  up  in  the  valley  around 
Wmchester,  and  by  the  enemy's  demonstrations  on  the 
extreme  left  passes,  he  was  leaving  our  army  to  the  right 
and  moving  in  the  direction  of  Warrenton,  making  "that 
masterly  movement "  through  the  mountain  down  the 
north  bank  of  the  Rappahannock,  that  the  boastful,  para- 
sitical northern  press  gavp  out  was  to  thwart  the  "  Rebel 
Lee "  and  give  them  an  easy  occupation  of  Richmond. 
This  beautiful  programme  was  to  be  carried  out  not  exactly 
by  fighting,  but  to  beat  the  wary  Lee  there  by  a  foot  .race. 
But'if  circumstances  had  placed  Richmond  as  a  goal  of 
refuge  from  rebel  bayonets,  the  gallant  soldiers  of  the 
"  Young  Napoleon,"  doubtless,  from  their  Bull-runish  pro- 
clivities would  have  won  at  that  game.  But  as  the  sequel 
of  events  will  show,  a  sad  accident  befel  his  novel  pi-o- 
gramme  ;  that  either  the  Young  ISTapolcon  had  not  care- 
fully examined  tlie  track  before  setting  his  coursers  on,  or 
that  the  new  rider,  who  relieved  liim,  did  not  spur  fast 
enough. 

The  enemy  in  debouching  from  his  base  through  the 
mountains  gave  our  cavalry  active  woYk,  both  to  keep 
their  cavalry,  which  Vas  largely  superior  to  us  in  numbers 
to  the  lines  of  their  main  body,  and  from  dashing  against 
the  flanks  of  our  army  that  was  also  on  the  move.  -This 
called  in  our  cavalry  from  its  lines.  On  the  3d  of  Novem- 
ber we  took  up  the  line  of  march,  leaving  behind  us  our 
good  loyal  population  to  be  again  cursed  by  the  hateful 
presence  of  the  Yankees ;  for  no  one  can  hate  them  so 
deeply  as  those  who  have  been  in  immediate  contact  with 


59 


them.  On  our  first  days"  march  we  met  with  iiothina:  of 
special  interest  save  the  wishful  looks  of  many  a  longing 
old  man  or'^iir  maiden  as  we  passed  along.  The  command 
bivauced  at  the  east  end  of  the  valley  beyond  Berryville. 
The. next  day  we  crossed  the  Shenandoah  river  at  an  ob- 
scure ford  at  the  foot  of  the  Blue  Ridge,  just  below  where 
the  Manassas  railroad  crosses,  and  crossed  over  the  ridge 
at  Manassas  Gap.  'Here  tlie  enemy's  cavalry  dashed  upon 
our  advance,  but  9-  few  vollics  sent  them  skedaddling  down 
the  mountain  in  the  wildest  confusion,  leaving  behind 
several  dead*  and  wounded.  Here  we  turned  to  the  right 
from  the  main  road,  and  pursued  an  obscure  track' along 
the  eastern  slope  of  the  mountain  and  halted  late  in  the 
night,  10  miles  beyond  the  Gap,  at  the  foot  of  the  moun- 
tain, ncar^Barber's  cross-roads  in  close  proximity  to  the 
enemy  who  were-  reported  to  be  advancing  from  the  direc- 
tion of  Snicker's  Gap.  A  strong  picket  was  thrown  out 
during  the  night,  and  early  in  the  morning  a  large  force 
of  cavalry  and  artillery  were  seen  advancing  in  the  direc- 
tion of  the  cross-roads  with  infantry  or  dismounted  cavalry 
moving  in  strong  columns  down  the  mountain  slopes  just 
behind.  Our  forces  to  meet  him  at  this  point  were  only 
Hampton '»  cavalry,  and  not  more  than  three-fourths  fit 
for  duty,  and  a  portion  of  the  9  th  Va.  cavalry  and  one 
battery  of  horse  artiHery  with  Gen.  Stuart  in  command. 
Our  forces  were  kept  concealed  behind  the  hills  till  about 
11  o'clock  when  the  enemy  were  seen  advancing  slowly 
and  cautiously  towards  the  crbss-roads.  Their  approach 
to  this  point  was  through  a  wide  lane  with  a  stone  fence 
running  on  each  side.  At  the  cross-roads  stood  an  old 
store  house  and  some  other  dilapidated  buildings,  and  on 
all  sides  were  undulating  open  fields,  checked  off  with 
rough  stone  fences.  The  following  disposition  was  made 
of  our  little  force  :  One  section  of  artillery  on  the  right  at 
the., cross-roads  supported  by  a  squadron  of  the  North 
Carolina  cavalry,  another  in  the  center  and  another  on  the 


60 


left  supported  byw  portion  of  the  Georgia  cavalry,  tlio  re- 
maiuing  four  squadrons  of  the  North  Carolina  cavalry  in 
advance  on  tlie  left,  and  the  South  Carolina  cavalry  on 
extreme  left  flank,  the  0th  Virginia  on  tlie  main  roail 
leading  b.y  the  store  house  with  a  small  body  of  dismounted 
sharpt?hooters  under  Lieut.  J.  M.  Morrow,  posted  behind 
the  buildings  at  the  cross-roads,  and  also  a  small  body  of 
the  Georgia  cavalry  as  sharpshooters  on  the  extreme  right 
flank.  Our  batteries  opened  vigorously  upon  the  enemy's 
advance  which  elicited  a  warm  response  from  theirs. 
The  duel  was  kept  up  an  hour  and  a  half.  In  the  meantime 
the  euem}  's  sharpshooters  were  creeping  up  under  cover 
of  the  stone  fences  leading  from  theircolumn  to  the  cross- 
roads, and  also  behind  some  cross-stone  fences  on  the  left. 
The  battery  at  the  cross-roads  firing  its  last  r6un'd  of  am- 
munition, was  with  its  support  withdrawn.  Their  cavalry 
on  seeing  this,  came  dashing  down  the  lane  to  follow  and 
capture  the  piece,  but  a  well  directed  volley  from  Lieut. 
Morrow^'s  little  squad  checked  their  advance,  and  continued 
pouring  it  into  their  confused  ranks,  and  drove  them  back. 
They  however  rallied  and  completed  the  charge  upon  the 
buildings,  when-  the  sharpshooters  retired  after  again 
emptying  a  good  nura-ber  of  saddles,  with  several  of  the 
party  wounded.  Immediately  at  the  cross-roads  the  Vir-* 
ginia  cavalry  met  and  drove  them  back  under  cover  of 
their  sharp-shooters. 

In  the  meantime  the  eneuiy's  cavalrjr  had  advanced  on 
the  advance  squadrons  of  the  N.  C.  Cavalry  on  the  left, 
where  Col.  Gordon  gallantly  met  and  was  driving  them 
before  him  but  run  into  an  ambuscade  of  the  enemy's  , 
sharpshooters  behind  a  stone  fence,  where  a  number 
of  our  men  were  captured ;  retiring  he  was  charged  by 
the  Yankee  cavalry,  in  which  the  sabre  was  used  quite 
freely,  driving  them  back  a^ifin,  and  following  them  up 
vigorously  recaptured  most  of  our  man  and  bore  (Jff  a 
number  of  theirs.     The  South  Carolina  cavalry  came  to 


ol 


their  support  and  hold  the  position^  After  this  an  artillery 
duel  was  kept  up  briskly  for  two  hours,  when  all  our 
wounded  was  taken  otf  and  the  command  withdrawn  with- 
out any  interruption  to  the  IVont  Royal  turnpike,  and 
bivauced  for  the  night  at  Gains'  cross-roads.  Our  loss 
was  ascertained  to  have  been  fifty,  killed,  wounded  and 
missing. 

The  next*  day  there  were  some  skirmishing  of  the  other 
cavalry  on  the  left,  but  our  command  was  not  engaged. 
We  bivauced  the  ensuing  i^ig^^t  in  the  same  place,  in  a 
thiok  timber,  behind,  some  hills — a  most  bitter  cold  night 
without  axes  to^prepare  firewood^ — the  Xorth  Carolina 
cavalry  being  the  farthest  down  the  road  on  the  advance 
position.  The  next  morning  found  the  snow  falling  thick 
and  fast,  and  continued  until  the  afternoon.  About  three 
o'clock,  while  shivering  around  our  stinted  camp  tires,  call- 
ing down  anything  but  blessings  upon  the  head  of  Mars 
for  introducing  such  a  cruel  modus  operandi  for  settling  dif- 
ficulties between  mortals,  the  ominous  cracks  from  our  well 
known  carbines  at  the  nearest  picket  post  of  the  last  named 
regiment,  and  the  rushing  in  of  a  courier  gave  brief  notice 
of  the  untimely  approach  of  the  enemy.  Everj^  man' to 
his  horse  and  down  into  the  road  dashed.  Our  pickets 
\tere  falling  back  hurriedly,  and  was  now  at  the  edge  of 
the  camp ;  a  large  body  of  their  dismounted  men  were  at- 
tempting to  flank  and  surround  us  on  the  right,  and  a 
heavy  body  of  his  cavalry  was  advancing  up  the  road. 
Col.  Gor(^n  met  the  emergency  by  placing  the  cavalry  in 
the  road  and  throwing  a  body  of.di8mount6d  jnen  out  on 
the  right  under  Lieut.  Slier,  who  boldly  and  vigorously 
met  and  drove  them  back  from  hill  to  hill,  and  held  them 
against  their  main  body  until  a  piece  of  our  artillery  was 
brought  up,  when  they  were  finally  driven  back,  and  re- 
treated precipitately  down  the  road.  Their  artillery  was 
used  quite  freely,  but  without  any  effect.  This  regiment 
was  the  only  troops  engaged.     No  pursuit  was  ordered,  as 


iii: 


the  repulsed  was  too  strong  for  the  repulsing  party,  the 
other  regiments  of  the  brigade  beingsituated  some  distance 
up  the  road,  and  tlie  onset  being  so  sudden,  did  not  come 
up  in  time  to  make  pursuit.  The  enemy  had  several  killed 
and  wounded,  while  the  success  of  this  spirited  little  affair 
was  not  purchased  without  loss  on  our  side.  Lieut.  J.  S. 
Siler,  of  Co.  K,  from  Macon  county,  •  X.  C,  fell  while 
bravely  leading  the  dismounted  skirmishers  in  the  last 
charge.  In  hira  his  regiment  lost  a  valiant  and  noble  soul ; 
ijool,  brave,  generous,  and  kind^his  men  loved  him  like  a 
brother.  A  few  of  his'  men,  nearest  him  when  he  fell,  bore 
him  oft,  while  the  remainder  fought  like  tigers  until  the 
affair  was  over.  Sad,  indeed,  was  the  scene  when  his 
weather-bronzed  men  wept  around  his' lifeless  corpse,  as  his 
warm  blood  crimsoned  the  fresh-fallen  snow.  But  sadder 
— far  sadder  the  home  scene — when  that  manly  form  lay 
before  his  devojed  friends,  a  fallen  sacrifice  for  liberty. — 
Father,  mother,  brother  and  sister,  your  country's  altar 
could  not  have  had  a  more  worthy  sacrifice,  and  may  you 
and  yours  live  to  enjoy  that  sacrifice. 

"  They  who  for  their  country  die, 

Shall  fill  an  honored  grave  ; 
For  glory  guilds  the  soldier's  tomb, 

And  beauty  weeps  the  brave." 

On  the  enduing  day,  November  the  8th,  the  enemy  with 
a  strong  force  of  his  cavalry  made  a  sudden  dash  imon  the 
camp  of  the  Georgia  Regiment,  which  was  situated  some 
three  miles  from  Gain's  cross-roads,' on  the  turnpike  near 
Little  Washington.  They  evaded  the  pickets  at  the  cross- 
roads, and  came  in  a  by-way  from  the  right,  (a  mile  and  a 
half  from  the  camp),  where  a  small  body  of  men  under 
Lieut.  Wm.  Dial,  of  the  Georgia  cavalry  with  only  ten 
men  were  picketing,  who  gallantly  met  the  onset,  falling 
back  slowly  to  a  narrow  lane,  stubbornly  contesting  the 


ti.3 


ground,  bore  up  band  to  band  witb  their  pressing  assail- 
ants. The  command  at  the  camp  heard  it  and  were  hur- 
•rving  out  to  meet  the  alarm ;  Co).  Dellioney  putting 
spurs  to  bis  borse  left  the  column  behind  and  dashed  up 
into  the  melee^  and  hand  to  band  with  bis  brave  boys,  near- 
ly all  of  whom  bad  been  cut  down,  was  delivering  his  blows 
right  and  left  when  an  athletic  Yankee  trooper  assailed 
him  just  as  be  was  raising  his  dripping  sabre  from  its  vic- 
tim. His  new  antagonists  blows  were  dexterously  dealt, 
and  an  instant  parry  saved  bis  head;  a  quick  heavy  blow 
partially  warded  off  fell  broadside  and  deadened  bis 
sword  arm,  causing  it  to  fall  helpless  by  his  side — one 
more  deadly  thrust  at  heart,  but  luckily,  a  silver  cased 
flask  in  the  breast  coat  pocket  turns  the  weapons  sharj) 
point,  and  it  glides  by,  only  gi-azing  the  skin.  Exaspera- 
ted at  his  foiled  attempt,  the  furious  trooper,  with  knit 
brows  and  compressed  lips  was  raising  the  final  blow  at 
the  leugtli  of  bis  powerful  arm — the  column  comes  thun- 
dering up  in  hurrying  tread — outstripping  the  foremost 
■  dashes  a  small  boy  on  a  little  keen  black  charger;  his 
darting  eye  catches  bis  beloved  Colonel's  awful  dilemma, 
and  with  upraised  gleaming  sabre,  arrests  the  fatal  blow, 
by  cleaving  the  confident  antagonists  head  in  twain,  and 
half  raising  it  for  another  stroke  a  pistol  shot  sends  the 
noble  lad  too  reeling  from  bis  saddle,  dangerously  wound- 
ed.*    The  last  one  of  the  gallant  ten  had.  fallen,  killed  or 

*  "We  deem  it'worthy  td  state  that  this  noble  boy,  Jiminie  Clanton,  is 
the  son  of  a  highly  respectable  aud  influential  citizen  of  Augusta,  Ga., 
scarce  sixteen  years  old.  He  was  dangerously  wounded  in  the  body, 
but  has  since  recovered.  Ilis  devoted  father  on  hearing  of  his  situation, 
hurried  on  out  to  visit  him,  and  repaired  to  the  place  where  poor 
Jimmie  lay  in  the  most  precarious  situation.  On  entering  the  room, 
the  solicitous  parent  seeing  his  suffering  boy  lying  stretched  out  on  his 
back;  after  saluting  him,  not  even  waiting  to  inquire  of  his  wellfare, 
but  looking  anxiously  into  his  pale  features,  "  My  boy — my  boy,  tell 
me,  were  you  shot  facing  the  foe  or  with  your  back  to  him."  Jimmie 
fhowing  the  wound  in  front.  "  All "  right  my  brave  boy,"  with  his 
venerable  face  sparkling  with  joy.  "  IM  with  far  greater  pride  hurried 
you  with  that  wound  in  front  than  for  yoti  to  have  saved  vour  life  by 
runniog. 


tJ4 


wouuded.  Hand  to  hand  the  supporting  part}'  furiously 
took  up  the  rencounter.  Old  U.  S.  reojulars  had  been 
met,  but  Southern  impetuosity  was  too  much  for  them ; 
they  began  to  yield  and  give  ground,  when  a  body  of  our 
dismounted  men  gained  their  flanks,  when  they  broke  ; 
here  our  artillery  came  dashing  up  and  completed  the 
success  and  sent  them  scampering  down  the  road  at  a 
most  inconvenient  speed.  They  were  puTsuotl  a  short 
distance,  but  were  called  oft  on  account  of  the  weakness 
of  the  pursuing  party.  The  enemy's  loss  in  killed  and 
wounded  and  captured  was  seventy-five,  our  loss  was'twen- 
tj'-five  killed  and  wounded. 

From  this  point  Gen.  Hampton  assumed  the  aggressive. 
He  made  two  successful  dashes  on  the  enemy's  position  at 
Laurel  Mills,  fourteen  miles  above  Culpepper  C.  H.,  suc- 
ceeded in  routing  and  driving  them  entirely  from  that 
region,  killing,  wounding  and  capturing  a  large  number  ; 
which  rid  the  farmers  of  the  presence  of  these  notorious 
scamps  who  were  committing  every  species  of  depreda- 
tions, from  negro  stealing  down  to  robbiiig  the  roost  of 
the  last  old  hen.  Thus  giving  more  evidence  of  the  thiev- 
ing brigand  than  soldiers 'fighting  for  principle. 

From  daily  reconnoisances  it  was  found  that  the  whole 
force  of  the  enemy 'were  rapidly  moving  on  down,  and  on 
the  night  of  the  17th,  Gen.  Hampton  with  a  detachment 
from  the  North  and  South  Carolina  cavahy,  proceeded 
cautiously  toward  his  camps,  which  were  found  to  be  va- 
cated. The  reconnoisance  was  pushed  on  across  Broad 
Run  to  within  eight  miles  of  Warrenton,  where  their 
pickets  were  discovered,  and  driven  in,  and  after  skirmish- 
ing with  and  harrassing  their  main  body  a  good  part  of 
the  day,  rbtired  back  across  Broad  Run,  losing  one  killed 
and  three  wounded  ;  the  enemy's  loss  was  fifteen  killed 
and  wounded.  Early  next  morning  another  reconnoisance 
was  made  in  the  same  direction  and  all  the  camps  were 
found  to  have  been  deserted  during  the  night.     We  kept 


t)0 


on  their  track  through  Warrentou  ;  here  Gen.  Stuart  slept 
in  the  identical  bed  Burnside  had  slept  in  the  mght  be- 
fore, occupying  for  his  headquarters  the  house  where  the 
young  Napoleon  had  turned  over  his  command  to  Burn- 
side.  ■  Here  the  celebrated  Black  Horse  cavalry  pursued 
and  captured  in  the  farther  side  of  the  town  apart  of  their 
rear  guard.  We  followed  closely  on  their  heels.  The 
conduct  that  characterized  their  track  through  the  coun- 
try was  enough  to  demoralize  the  soldiers  of  Peter  the 
Hermit.  Farms  wantonly  laid  waste,  houses  pillaged, 
not  a  living  domestic  animal  nor  a  grain  for  bread  left  for 
these  unfortunate  people ;  nevertheless,  our  presence 
would  seem  to  cheer  them  into  a  forsretfulness  of  their 
situation,  which  augers  that  uo  earthly  power  can  ever 
shake  their  faith  from  our  ca  use.  We  bivouacked  near 
Warrentou  Springs  and  next  day  made  a  reconnoisance 
out  north  of  the  Springs,  when  it  was  ascertained  that  the 
enemy's  tdrce  was  moving  oii  from  the  direction  of  the 
upper  fords  of  the  Rappahannock,  down  through  Faquier 
and  Staliord  counties  in  the  direction  of  Fredericksburg. 
Our  command  then  bore  down  and  crossed  the  Rappahan- 
nock at  Lawson's  !^ord,  and  thence  moved  on  to  Brandy 
Station  and  went  into  camp  in  that  vicinity." . 

Here  our  Brigade  Avas  posted  and  held  the  upper  lines 
of  the  Rappahannock  in  front  of  the  enemy's  extreme 
right,  picketing  -and  guarding  the  different  fords.  From 
this  point  Gen.  Hampton  made  frequent  arfd  successful 
raids  within  the  enemy's  lines.  On  tbe  last  of  JjTovember 
with  a  detachment  of  four  hundred  men,  ho  crossed  the 
Rappahannock  &ud  penetrated  into  Faquier  and  captured 
an  entire  Yankee  cavalry  camp,  securing  and  bearing  off 
a  large  number  of  prisoners,  the  camp  cavalry  equip- 
ments, without  the  loss  of  a  single  man.  He  made  several* 
daring  and  successful  raids,  penetrating  as  tar  as  Dumfdes 
and  Occoquan,  surprising  and  destroying  camps,  capturing 
luany  prisoners,  large  trains  of  wa^rons  and  sutler's  stores. 
5 


bb 


which  geiierally  proved  rich  and  valuable,  which  would 
give  the  boys  a  gay  time  over  the  spoils.     Candies,  syrups, 
pickled  oysters,  lobsters,  smoked  beef  tonj'ues,  Westpha- 
lia hams,  coftec,  sugar,  lemons,  oranges,  plums,  nuts,  aud 
in  fine  a  little  of  everything  that  a  well  assorted  confec- 
tionary on  Broadway  would' contain,  and  then  it  is  hardly 
thinable    "  Thomas   and  Jeremiah,"  brandies  and  wines 
of  the  most  approved  brands.     Out  of  these  fine  brands 
was  culled  and  gaudily  painted  cask,  labelled  in  the  most 
fancy  characters,  "A  Christmas  Present  to  Gen.  A.  E. 
BuRNSiDE,"  which  was  placed  under  special  deposit  for 
our  General's  side  board.     Doubtless  the  donor  of  this 
miscarried  present,  would,  under  the  regime  of  Abraham 
1,  be  bastiled  for  instilling  spii'it  into  the  rebellion.     On 
one  of  these  sudden  dashes  into  Occoquan  Gen.  Hampton 
captured  the  notorious  Virginia  traitor  and  spy  J.  C  Un- 
derwood.    These  raids  were  made  during  the  most  rigor- 
ous season  of  the  winter.     Traveling  day  and  night  amid 
the  severest  storms  of  sleet  and  snow,  which  was  borne 
cheerfully,  as  our  noble  and  beloved   commander,  sacrifi- 
cing  every  pleasure,  never  failed  to  share  with  us  the  ; 
most  extreme  priva'tions.     These  annoying  raids  so  serious- 
ly aftected  the  enemy's  communication,  that  the  line  be- 
tween Alexandria  and  Fredericksburg  was   suspended. 
The  enemy  attempted  several  times  to  force  a  passage 
across  at  these  fords  above,  but  in  evx^ry  instance  wer(> 
successfully  met  and  driven  back. 


67 


STUART'S  RAID  IN  BURNSIDB'S  REAR— CROSS- 
ES TKE  RAPPAHANT^OCK— MAKES  A  DECENT 
UPON  DUMFRIES  AND  OCCOQUAN— MEETS 
AND  DISPERSES  THE  YANKEE  CAVALRY 
MOST  HANDSOMELY— CAPTURES  A  LARGE 
TRAIN  OF  WAGONS  AND  SUTLER'S  'STORES 
—CAPTURES  BERIOiEY  STATION— PRISONERS 
AND  SUPPLIES. 

The  f)attle  of  Fredericksburg  had   been   fought  under 
the  regime  of  its  new-fledged  General,  who  had,  in  their 
own  favorite  phrase,   "met  a  damaging  repulse."     He 
had  stolen  back  with  his  shattered  forces  across  the  river 
on  his  pontoons,  which  had  he  Ciesar-like,  burnt  them  be- 
hind him,  his  beaten  demoralized  army  would  have  been 
completely  gobbled  by  the  wary  Lee.     But  he  had  suc- 
ceeded under  cover  of  night,  in   doggedly  dravting  them 
back  again,  and  he  lay  cowering  between  the  Rappahan- 
nock and  Potomac,  which  presented  an  opportune  occa- 
sion for  a  mischievous  prank  in  his  rear  by  our  ''  light 
dashing  dragoons."     Accordingly  a  little  over  a  week  after 
this  event,  on  Christmas  morning,   December   25th,  that 
season  once  the  signal  of  joy  and  mirth,  the  weather-beaten 
trooper,   if  he  had."  any  anticipations  on  that  event,  they 
were  blasted  by  the  bugles  importunate  notes,  summoning 
■'  boots  and  saddles."     In  all  the  camps  he  could  be  seen 
<-heerfully  busying  himself  in  packing  bis  haversack,  ad- 
justing his  full  compliment  of  catridge  rounds,  belting  his 
nabre  and  slinging  on  his  carbine,  in  pursuance  of  an  or- 
der of  the  night  previous,  to  be  ready  early  with  five  days 
rations  en   route   for  some   point   unknown.     About   10 
o'clock  the  whole  brigade  moved  off  in  full  trim  in  the  di- 
rection of  the  Rappahannock,  where  we  joined  the  other 
cavalry  of  the  whole   division  with  its   accompanj^ment  of 
two  pieces  of  horse  artillery,  and  bivouacked  for  the  night 
on    the   south    bank.     Early   next  morning  crossed  the 


68 


river  at  Kelly's  and  Bovnnan's  fords,  moving  up  ou  the 
Elktown  road,  'with  Gens.  Stuart,  Hampton  and  the  two 
Lee's  at  our  head,  betokened  some  trick  of  more  than  or- 
dinary import ;  the  brigade  of  eaoh  stretching  along  the 
narrow  road  a  considerable  distance  behind.  Passed 
through  Elktown,  and  penetrated  as  far  as  Cedar  river 
without  any  interruption,  when  after  dark  the  command 
w?.s  halted  and  bivouacked  on  this  side  below  Brcutsville, 
'  dnd  decanlpod  early  next  morning,  crossing  at  Bowman's 
forc^.    .?avins;  Brcntsville    U)   the   left,    thence  recfossing 

Tc.tion  of  Occoquan,  and  when 
(.:.„  .  1. 5  vi'  ^xi^  ,i:..r  place  Gen.  Stuart  detached  the 
•rigades  of  the  two  Lec'S,  turned  to  the  right.and  moved 
down  upon  i)ir;nfries,  where  some  recent*  camps  of  the 
enemy  had  been  established  since  Hampton's  last  raid  a 
woqk  before,  leaving  Hampton  w^ith  his  brigade  to  move 
on  Occoquan,  where  a  body  of  the  ^enemy's  cavalry  were 
posted,  and  attack  the  two  places  simultaneously.  One 
column  after  moving  bn  a  short  distance,  the  advance  met 
a  small  bod}''  of  Yankee  cavalry,  and  after  an  exciting- 
chase  captured  the  whole  party  ;  then  moved  up  to  within 
three  rnilcs  of  Occoquan  and  halted.  Soon  the  booming 
oftfaunonfrom  the  right  gave  us  notice  that  Stuart  was 
iit  work  On  his  point ;  the  command  moved  rapidly  on, 
and  when  aboct  within  a  mile  of  our  point  the  enemy's 
cavalry  m'^>t  the  advange,  and  after  a  few  sharp  cracks  they 
broke  and  fled,  the  whole  column  in  full  chase  after  them, 
chasing  them  through  OccoqUan,  killing,  \voundirig  and 
captnriirg  twenty-five,  and  driving  the  others  across  .the 
river,  some  breaking  down  the  river  in  the  direction  of 
Dumfries,  and  capturing  a  train  of  twenty  wago-ns,  mules 
and  a  good  lot  of  sutler's  wagons  fell  a  welcome  prey  tf> 
us  again.  We  will  relate  a  littlq  experience  with  these 
unfortunate  victims : 

The  first  was  a  short  chufiy  black  lager-beer  Dutchman 
toiling  with  a  heavy  laden  two-horse  vehicle,  just  turning 


69 


out  of  the  road  to  take  up  camp.  Our  advance  dashed  up 
and' hailed  him  to  surrender.  The  astounded  driver  drop- 
ping his  lines,  with  broad  amazement  over  his  round  feat- 
ures, and  with  'a,  despairing  look  exclaimed,  '-'  Veil,  veil, 
do  rebels  isli  got  mo.  Got  tarn  sich  a  peeples. '  Vot  for 
ish  our  army  vort  any  how,  if  dey  can't  keep  vuu  tarn 
leetle  pit  uv  rebel  hosse  ofi'vot  lectle  guds  a  body  ish  gut 
in  de  behind  here;  vy  dey  aint  vort  vun  copper  zent,  to  let 
you  leetle  pit  uv  men  vip  tem  off  and  cum  vay  pack  here 
and  take  our  leetle  tings  from  us  tish  vay."  With  a  deeper 
grin  of  despondency,  he  continued  ;  "  every  ting  I  ish  got, 
dm'  it  goes,"  "  veil,"  extending  his  hands  with  open  digits, 
"  der  ish  vive  fingers  on  dat  hand  and  vivc  on  tish,  and  I 
ish  goin  to  home  and  go  to  vork  vid  tem  hands,  and  vat 
leetle  I  git,  I  vill  stay  der  mit  it  de  rest  of  mine  tays,  afore 
I  vill  risk  vun  cent  in  tish  tarn  concern  vun  time  more ;  if 
old  shoe  Hooker  would  give  his  poud  agist  de  rebels  and 
old  Linckhou  tu  poot."  Three  other  vehicles  with  their 
rooling  stock  had  halted  behind.  From  the  formost,  an 
Irishman,  the  driver  leaving  his  boss,  a  merchant  like  per- 
sonage sitting  on  the  box,  was  accosted  by  oilc  oi'  our 
ofiicers  riding  up,  "Well  Pat  I  am  glad  to  see  you."  ';  And 
sure  ye've  missed  it,  its  Mike  this  time.  And  faith  ^ptiii 
ye've  a  right  to  bay  glad  since  I've  brought  so  nicely  intu 
yer  hands,  three  sich  loads  as  those."  .  "  Have  you  any 
boots?"  he  impatiently  asked,  "Ah,  an  plase  yer  honor, 
a  fine  lot,  but  as  yer  feet  is  kinder  like  me  own,  its  out- 
grown the  rest  of  yer  body,  (the  toot  of  the  interrogator 
being  unduly  unproportionate,)  I  doubt  ye  could  be  fitted 
out  ,o' this  lot,  but  if  ye'll  say  so,  I'll  take  yer  measure 
now  and  have  ye  a  pair  made  to  order,  and  whin*  we  come 
Hgin,  I'll  deliver  them.  Ye've  dun  so  well  this  time,  ye'U 
l>e  afthar  prowling  around  here  agin,  and  as  we've  disposed 
uv  the  stock  so  easily  this  timo.  we'll  be  afthar  driving  to 
the  same  market  agin.  " 

The  wagons  were  hurried  oil  amid  the  dolorous  sighs  of 


70 

the  ruined  sutlers ;  Mike  lively  cracking  his  whip  and 
jesting  to  the  contrary. 

The  command  held  this  place  till  10  o'clock  in  the  night, 
and  then  retired  about 'eight  miles  back  on  the  road  we 
come,  where  we  joined  the  other  brigades,  who  in  the 
meantime  had  made  a  successful  decent  upon  Dumfries, 
killing  and  capturing  one  hundred  and  fifty  of  the  enemy, 
charging  and  driving  them  from  their  first  line  of  camps, 
which  were  held  and  destroyed,  and  canonaded  a  large 
body  of  infantry  for  two  hours ;  bringing  off  forty  army 
and  sutler's  w^agons,  with  only  the  loss  of  6  killed  and 
wounded.  Here  at  a  late  hour  in  the  night  the  conlmanTl 
halted  and  rested  till  morning.  In  the  morning  it  was 
ascertamed  that  a  large  force  of  the  enemy's  cavalry  was 
pursuing  us.  Gen.  Stuart  wheeled  the  column  and  led  it 
back  to  meet  them  and  after  advancing  about  three  miles 
met  their  advance.  The  enemy  anticipating  our  move- 
ments had  drawn  up  three  brigades  in  line  aci'oss  an  ex- 
tensive old  field  fronting  the  I'oad,  ajiproached  by  a  steep 
hill,  the  road  passing  up  this  hill  through  a  deep  cut. — 
Gen.  Stuart  with  the  1st  Va.  cavalry  i^his  old  reo;iment)  in 
advance  with  the  other  columns  in  supporting  distance. 
The  enemy's  advance  was  charged  and  drove  straightfor- 
ward in  and  just  as  the  end  of  the  cut  was  reached  Gen. 
Stuart  gave  the  coijimand,  "  At  them  my  boys  and  give 
it  to  them  in  tierce  -point.''  And  at  it,  with  that  develish 
yell,  across  the  opeii  field  in  the  face  of  a  perfect  shower 
of  leaden  hail,  the  gallant  Virginians  dashed — clash  went 
their  sabres,  delving  into  the  enemy's  ranks  they  plunged. 
The  first  shock  had  scarcely  subsided  whei^-  their  front 
line  broke*  plying  the  onset  with  additional  fnry,  the  sup- 
port too  gave  way  aiid  the  confusion  became  a  rout,  and 
broke  into  a  wild  flight ;  their  Hying  columns  glutting  the 
road— ^parties  indiscriminately  breaking  through  wood 
and  field ;  the  continual  pop  of  our  pistols  and  clash  of 
our  sabres ;  pinning  the   hindmost   up ;    blockading  the 


u 


road  with  horse  and  rider ;  every  step  marking  the  x^&d 
w'lih  a  bleeding  body.  This  exciting  chase  was  thus  kept 
lip  for  two  miles,  driving  them  on  through  their  eanipvS, 
below  0<;coquan  city  and  never  stopped  till  within  the 
lines  of  a  large  body  of  infantry,  who  were  moving  up 
Irom  Dumfries,  and  after  entertainiug  this  body  with  sev- 
eral rounds  of  shell,  the  command  withdrew  ;  killing  and 
wounding  some  200  of  the  enemy,  with  the  loSs  of  16  kill- 
ed and  wounded.  Crossed  the  Occoquan  river  and  pro- 
ceeded to  Burke  atation  on  tlie  Orange  and  Alexandria 
railroad,  capturing  the  telegraph  and  operator,  and  some 
supplies.  Here  Gen.  Stuart  opened  communication  with 
old  Abe  and  elicited  several  respectful  responses ;  when 
he  concluded  by  remonstrating  with  him  respecting  the 
inferior  qualities  of  his  mules,  in  the  following  dispatch  : 
"•  President  Lincoln,  the.  last  draw  of  wagons  I've  just 
'made  are  very  good,  but  the  mules  are  inferior  stock, 
scarcely  able  to  haul  off  the  empty  wagon,  and  if  you  ex- 
l)ect  me  to  give  your  lines  any  farther  attention  in  this 
quarter,  you  should  furnish  better  stock,  as  I've  had  to 
burn  several  Valuable  wagons  before  getting  them  in  my 
lines."  ■    ~  •  -    . 

(Signed,)  J.  E.  B.  STUART. 

A.  Lincoln. 

Destroying  the  telegraph  and  obstructing  the  railroad, 
moved  on  all  night  in  the  direction  of  Fairfax,  but  finding 
a  strong  force  had  been  concentrated  at  that  point,  passed 
immediately  around  it,  evading  their  forces  who  were  on 
the  move  to  intercept  us,  and  bore  round  up  to  Vienna, 
and  swept  on  round  the  enemy  without  any  interruption 
during  the  day  ;  crossed  Bull  Run  and  bivouacked  near 
Gainsville ;  thence  through  *Warrentou,  where  a  body  of 
Yankee  cavalry  came  across  to  intercept  us,  but  the 
ubiqitous  Black  Horse  alone  met  and  dispersed  them ; 
recross^ed  the  Rappahannock  at  Warrenton  Springs,  and 
proceeded  leisurely  to  camp,  and  reached  it  on  the  31st. 
In  this  raid  Gen.  Stuart  doubtless  carried  out  his  most 


cherished  plans.  CapLuriui;  300  prit^oiiors  besides  killiDg- 
and  ■vvo.imaing  al  least  100^' Securing  apd  carrying  ftffa 
large  quantity  of  valuable  property,  and.  inflicting  eerious 
damage  upon  the  cnoiny  in  destroying  his  caiups  aiitl  sup- 
plies. Thus  ends  our  crude  and  inperfect  sketches  of  the 
•liunible  part  we  have  borne  in  the  summer,  foil  and  M'in- 
1er  campaigns  of  1862.  •' 

And  to-night  as  we  lay  down  our  pen,  the  chilling  >vin- 
try  winds  chant  a  sad  requie^ii  to  the  partiufj  year  that  has 
entombed  so  "many  fond  hopes.*  AYe  hear  the  lone  step  of 
the  sentiiicl  on  his  weary  round;  as  hi%  steady  tread  rustles 
over  the  incru'sted  frozen  ground ;  he  breatlies  in  silent-c 
against  the  cutting  blasts,  and  fond  memory  carries  him 
r<  rln^  once  happy  fcen OS  of  ik'Uci'I'iiI  association. 


ir< 


■  ilia  rnuskct  lalls  eliUin,  u..-  i.i>_c  ...«i...  ..uu  giiin. 
*      Grows  gentle  with  memoriee  dear," 

ILis  r'-veries-  break  and  his  heart  litters  a  silent  jn-i'yer 
lor  peace.  Ah  I  how  many  hearts  at  this  •moment  are" 
iinxiously  throbbing  fur  that  much-  coveted  blessing.  Vet 
!>car  up  ;'^  God  in  his  own  good  time  will  deliver  us,  and 
; mid  ihi.'.  dark  frowniug  clouds  of  war  a  iull  gleam  of  hope 
cers  through  the  gloom,,  reflected  from  a  just  and  holy 
cause,  still  encouraging  us  to  strike. 

Strike — as  ye  have  strucic  befor'^  1 
Strike — as  ye  have  struck,  qhcc  more 
Strike — as  patriotic  8ira§  of  yore  !  ■■  ' 

Determined  }J»he  free  I  ^ 

Those  sore  tiials  may  rhn'throiigh  another  ^eaV,  or  even 
a  series  of  year.:.  Souls  are  tried  in  the  crucible  of  suffer- 
ing, and  the  hotter  tii6  ci  ucible  the  purer  the  metal.  And 
when  the  long  pent  np  beams  of  peace  burf^t  forth,  they 
will  shine  but'the  brighter;  and  when  ^'^e  do  come  to  sit 
down  under  the  green  tree  of  peace,  the  holicrwill  be  the 
spell.  Yes,  every  \)ure  impulse  of  heart,  every  holy  emo- 
tion of  the  sdul  and  every  fond  hope  of  the  future  conspires 
us  •()  stnkc  on  with  redoubled  blows. 

•     ^  "  To  strike — lor  ou5- "altars  and  our  lires  '. 

For  the  green  graTes  of  our  sires  ! 
God  and  our  native  land  H' 


